way's world view had matured in the decade between the two? Which theme seems the more profound? Which of the two men seems to be the bigger or more mature person? 7. Style-Style is the writer's relationship to his material. He may treat it seriously, humorously, poetically, ironically, or in many other ways. Sometimes you will find poetic repetitions, almost like refrains. Some writers use symbols-concrete objects to represent ideas; imagery; figures of speech; or the use of colors, forms, sounds, smells, tastes-to point up their meaning. Some use parallels, juxtaposition, foils. The rhythm of the prose, the idiom of the character's speech (as the use of the Spanish idiom in For Whom the Bell Tolls), the language, the length of sentences all are parts of the writer's craft to be controlled for effect. The architecture of the whole, artistic economy, tone, atmosphere-the suggestions are endless. Only a few are mentioned here to stimulate your own further exploration and discussion if you are interested in the books not only as war fiction but as novels. A 1001, The Military Novel, is freewheeling; it has no beginning or ending. You can dive into it at the beginning, at the end, or somewhere in the middle, following as much or as little of the Reader's Guide as you please. If you are interested only in World War II novels, fine. If you want to know a little more about the Napoleonic Era, War and Peace may be of interest to you. If you are interested in the battle of Stalingrad, Plievier's novel may add life to the bare historical facts. Or you may have seen the film version ("Decision Before Dawn") of George Howe's fine Call It Treason (about an idealistic young German soldier) and wish to read the novel for comparison. Conversely, you may have read the novel of Stalingrad and wish to check up on its historical accuracy-in which case you can refer to the nonfiction books which are suggested. If this offering stimulates you to explore the field of military novels, if it provides you with a list of worthwhile books in that field, if it aids you to evaluate them as literary efforts and promotes your enjoyment of leisure reading, we are content. There is no written assignment, no final examination—in the words of Harry Golden: "Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy." -0 Titles and Available Editions The publishers listed in this Reader's Guide may not be the only publishers of titles mentioned herein. They are the only ones known to us at present. Publishers' names are included to assist the interested reader in obtaining titles from other sources, if they are not available in libraries. 1. Rifleman Dodd* by C. S. Forester Little, Brown & Company Paperback: Bantam 2. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Modern Library Edition Paperback: Penguin L-62/63-2 vols; Bantam S 149/7; Dell 9394; many other popular editions 3. Sebastopol by Leo Tolstoy Paperback: University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor AA-58 4. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane Paperback: Washington Square Press W-220; Dell Laurel 5. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque Paperback: Crest d-461 6. The Good Soldier: Schweik by Jaroslav Hasek Doubleday & Company, Inc. Paperback: New American Library Signet CT-176 7. And Quiet Flows the Don by Mikhail Sholokhov Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Paperback: New American Library Signet T-1661 *The paperback editions of Rifleman Dodd and The General were tentatively planned for reissue by Bantam Books, Incorporated, in late 1964. However the publisher has decided to postpone publication of these titles. You may be able to secure these novels in the earlier hardbound and paperback editions. 8. The General* by C. S. Forester Little, Brown & Company 9. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway Paperback: Scribner SL-61 10. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway 11. Stalingrad by Theodor Plievier 12. The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Paperback: Pocket Books Giant Cardinal GC-10 13. A Bell for Adano by John Hersey Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Paperback: Avon G 1043 14. The War Lover by John Hersey Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Paperback: Bantam S-2130 15. The Bridge Over the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle Vanguard Press Inc. Paperback: Bantam Pathfinder FP-26 16. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk Doubleday Company, Inc.-both clothbound and paperback editions 17. Call It Treason by George Howe Viking Press Inc. 18. The Bridges at Toko-ri by James Michener Random House Inc. Paperback: Bantam Pathfinder Edition JP-17 19. The Centurions by Jean Lartéguy E. P. Dutton & Company, Inc. Paperback: Avon N 104 *Ibid. NOTE: If you liked this offering, please tell others. If you have any suggestions or recommendations for improvement, please tell us! On the last page of this Reader's Guide you will find a form letter. We would appreciate it very much if you will complete it, tear it out, and mail it to USAFI, Madison, Wisconsin 53703. Your comments and suggestions will help us to improve this offering. You need not sign the letter if you do not wish to do so. I Novels of the Napoleonic Era (1795-1815) Many writers have endeavored to portray the era of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, in all its glory and tragedy: novelists Victor Hugo, Stendhal, and Thackeray; historians Madelin, Pariset, Rose, and Thompson; the active participants in Napoleon's armies and court; Caulaincourt, Segur, Marbot. Naopleon's character fascinates the scholar and the man in the street. We have chosen two military novels about the Napoleonic Era from the many available: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, one of the great epics of our Western culture, and Rifleman Dodd by C. S. Forester, a fine character study of a trained and self-reliant infantryman. To understand the events of the Napoleonic Era described in these two novels, we must look backward from Napoleon about 150 years, or to the middle of the 17th century. The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) created the modern nation-state system and its emotional and ideological counterpart, the spirit of nationalism, the spark destined to ignite so many wars in modern history. Spain, once the leading nation of Europe and founder of the first modern colonial empire, sank into the lethargy of a third-class power. The Germany and Italy of today did not even exist. In their place many petty principalities fought for precedence while paying lip-service to the Holy Roman Emperor, who was also ruler of Austria. In the constant power-struggle within the Empire, which was not "Holy," "Roman," or an "Empire," the small Margravate of Brandenburg emerged victorious and became the militaristic Kingdom of Prussia. It challenged Austria's primacy over the German-speaking peoples in a series of bloody wars and diplomatic maneuvers. 758-796 0-65 |