Charles Yale Harrison was a machine-gunner in the First World War. After being wounded, he was a writer in Montreal and later New York, where he died in 1954.
Wade Davis is a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, and the author of 15 books including Into the "Silence: The Great War," "Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest."
[Review of previous edition: ] A classic... an almost clinical
account of war's brutalizing effects.--Brian Bethune"Macleans"
(11/08/2004)
[Review of previous edition: ] Harrison's damning indictment of a
war in which generals die in bed while soldiers die in a lousy
trench resonates with the impact of his experiences.... From
Montreal with recruits celebrating their departure and crowds
waving flags and cheering, the scene shifts abruptly to the
unspeakable horrors of the trenches. None of his training has
prepared the teenage protagonist and narrator (never given a name)
for the actuality of the trenches... In stark and powerful prose,
the narrator chronicles his experiences, admitting he can find
nothing to appease his terror.... Although the narrative is often
abrupt and stark, the rhythm of language effectively communicates
the ugliness and harsh reality that is the lot of soldiers on the
front lines.... Generals Die in Bed is no gentle treatise on war;
it stands as a reminder of the insanity of using warfare to solve
political problems, of sacrificing human beings for ideological
purposes. Highly Recommended.--Darleen Golk"Canadian Materials"
(11/15/2002)
[Review of previous edition: ] The author, an American working in
Canada, served with the Royal Montreal Regiment during the war. His
fictionalized account of experiences in the vermin-filled trenches
of Europe does not glorify the experience. First published in 1930,
the book leaves no doubt that combat was brutal, conditions severe,
and recruits not likely to die in the comfort of a bed. This new
edition includes an introduction that places the book in context,
plus a map of the front and archival photographs.... The writing is
a terse staccato, echoing gunfire and pounding hearts, and
reinforcing tension.... Period photographs add to the book's
gritty, poignant reality. This powerful literary work deserves an
audience beyond young adults.--Linda Salisbury"ForeWord"
(05/01/2002)
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
