Author and historian pierre berton all war is hell but for troops serving in world war i, it was the bloodiest trench warfare ever known. Instead they command soldiers from a safe distance behind the frontlines the title suggests that there is a total lack of respect for generals or for people in positions of power authority. An unnamed young canadian soldiers account of warfare, both in the trenches and behind the lines, in france during the first world war. Originally published in 1930, the landmark novel was one of the first to shatter the worlds illusion that war is a glorious endeavor. Check the book if it available for your country and user who already subscribe will have full access all free books from the library source. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This boy doesent have a name but went through alot of things that he would have to deal with like the lice, enemy and very mean generals. Through his observations and experiences the narrator shows. Its easy to write a heroic book about war, thats the book most readers want, but its never easy to write an honest one.
Through the soldiers experiences, the narrator shows only the dark side of human nature. Based on his own experiences in the first world war, charles yale harrison writes a. Instead, the men inhabit a senseless world, trusting only the. The soldier tells of the slaughterhouse of war with horrific and uncompromising description. Plot summary this canadian world war i narrative starts in montreal, where an unnamed soldier of 20 years old is among those canadian soldiers preparing to deploy confront the germans on european soil, mainly in france and belgium. But for troops serving in world war i, it was the bloodiest trench warfare ever known. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
A new introduction to this edition places harrisons novel with its literary contemporaries. Throughout the text there are a few instances of heroism and go. In an age when war is often hightech and the enemy impersonal, the events of september 11 put terrorists and victims face to face in the narrow confines of four doomed airplanes. Charles yale harrison a young soldier with the canadian forces questions the meaning of heroism, of truth, and of good and evil as he describes life in the trenches during world war i. The novel is wellknown for being most real and graphic in its description of warfare. Fear, the brutal murders of people begging for mercy, and the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is a firstperson narrative by an unnamed 18yearold canadian soldier about his war experiences from the time he leaves montreal to the battle of amiens, after which he is sent home. But for troops serving in world war i, it was the bloodiest. A short memoir of a canadian soldier in the trenches of world war 1. This boy doesent have a name but went through alot of things that he would have to. I dont think ill be able to finish it because i am having 2 birthday parties over the weekend. Instead, the men inhabit a senseless world, trusting only the instinct to stay alive.
A new edition of the classic novel about the frontlines of world war i. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. As the world marks the 100th anniversary of the start of world. Unique among the novels of its day, it has stood the test of time. All quiet on the western front and a farewell to arms. Based on the authors own experiences in combat, it tells the story of a young soldier fighting in the trenches of world war i. It is an unimaginably harrowing journey, especially for one not yet old enough to vote. Like wilfred owens, whose poetry focus on the dehumanizing effects of war, harrison also outlines the numerous costs. Based on the authors own experiences in combat, it tells the story of a. While reading this book, i found three very important quotations which show the stages of the war for the main character and author charles yale harrison. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. A long overlooked wwi novel returns for a new century.