A new introduction to this edition places harrisons novel alongside its literary contemporaries all quiet on the western front and a farewell to arms. In sparse but gripping prose, harrison conveys a sense of the horrors of life in. Charles yale harrison page on teachingbooks view the page share. But for troops serving in world war i, it was the bloodiest trench warfare ever known. 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. Harrison s concise, blunt writing style is an effective means of conveying the reality of war and an example to students of literature.
Charles yale harrison 18981954 was a canadian author and journalist. Harrisons vivid account is a valuable resource for all teachers and students of history and of the human condition. He reportedly left school in grade four following an argument with a teacher about the merchant of venice. A new introduction to this edition places harrison s novel alongside its literary contemporaries all quiet on the western front and a farewell to arms. Harrison s concise, blunt writing style is an effective means of conveying the reality of. A short memoir of a canadian soldier in the trenches of world war 1. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Many are offering free delivery, phone orders and even virtual book clubs. Drawing on his experiences in the first world war, charles yale harrison tells a stark and poignant story of a young man sent to fight on the western front. Originally published in 1930, the landmark novel was. Full of the horror and futility of old style fighting with the carnage of new style weapons. An overview this essay has been submitted by a student. Harrison s vivid account is a valuable resource for all teachers and students of history and of the human condition.
The title is a pun or is having a go at the generals. Instead, the men inhabit a senseless world, trusting only the instinct to stay alive. The novel is wellknown for being most real and graphic in its description of warfare. An unnamed young canadian soldiers account of warfare, both in the trenches and behind the lines, in france during the first world war. All quiet on the western front and a farewell to arms. With veterans of wwi no longer here to tell their tales, this book. Harrison, charles yale 18981954 date of first publication. A new edition of the classic novel about the frontlines of world war i. Yellowing and slight foxing to page edges, else fine. This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. But for troops serving in world war i, it was the bloodiest. Based on the authors own experiences in combat, it tells the story of a young soldier fighting in the trenches of world war i.
The novel is graphic in its description of warfare. Harrison was born in philadelphia but raised in montreal. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. At age 16, started working for the montreal star but his newspaper career was interrupted by the first word war. Charles yale harrison was born in philadelphia in 1898 but later moved to montreal with his family. Harrisons portrait of life in the trenches is unrelievedly horrible rats, lice. He was born in philadelphia and raised in montreal. He enlisted in the army and was sent to france where he participated in the battle of amiens in 1918. Tan cloth lettered in red, black on white illustrated page edges, black top page edges. The book follows the 18 year old narrator, a nameless american fighting in the canadian royal montreal regiment, through his journey from training to homecoming. Charles yale harrisons reflection on the injustice and atrocity of the first world war is driven by an examination of individual agency and how it is suppressed by institutions including the armed forces of canada and germany among others and the church. Based on his own experiences in the first world war, charles yale harrison writes a.
Narrated in the first person, present tense a tricky one to get right. Like wilfred owens, whose poetry focus on the dehumanizing effects of war, harrison also outlines the. It is an unimaginably harrowing journey, especially for one not yet old enough to vote. A new introduction to this edition places harrisons novel with its literary contemporaries. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. He served as a machine gunner in the royal montreal regiment in wwi, wounded in the battle of amiens, and became a writer in montreal and later new york. None, however, achieved the same level of success as his great antiwar novel. Like wilfred owens, whose poetry focus on the dehumanizing effects of war, harrison also outlines the numerous costs. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. After being wounded, he was a writer in montreal and later new york, where he died in 1954. Unique among the novels of its day, it has stood the test of time. At the age of sixteen he took a job with the montreal star, but shortly afterwards he enlisted with the royal montreal regiment and fought as a machinegunner in france and belgium during the first world war. Charles yale harrison was a machinegunner in the first world war.
A soldier who fought in the war and an author who wrote about. In sparse but gripping prose, harrison conveys a sense of the horrors of life in the. Burt undated, but the recent fiction listed at the end of the book suggests a date within two or three years of the date of 1930 date first posted. Through the soldiers experiences, the narrator shows only the dark side of human nature. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. 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. Based on the authors own experiences in combat, it tells the story of a.