Charles yale harrison was born in philadelphia in 1898 but later moved to montreal with his family. Harrison moved from montreal to new york in the 1920s, where he worked on the staff of the communist party of america cpusaled magazine new ma. 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. Instead, the men inhabit a senseless world, trusting only the instinct to stay alive. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. 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. Through his observations and experiences the narrator shows.
He enlisted in the army and was sent to france where he participated in the battle of amiens in 1918. Through the soldiers experiences, the narrator shows only the dark side of human nature. At age sixteen took an entrylevel job with the montreal star newspaper. The narrator is the author charles yale harrison reply delete. 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 new york evening standard called it the best of the war books and the new york times. A new introduction to this edition places harrisons novel alongside its literary contemporaries all quiet on the western front and a farewell to arms. Harrison, charles yale 18981954 date of first publication. Harrison s concise, blunt writing style is an effective means of conveying the reality of war and an example to students of literature. Like wilfred owens, whose poetry focus on the dehumanizing effects of war, harrison. The place and time settings of the novels, obviously, take in at least some aspect of at least one war or conflict. Audiobook reading of charles yale harrisons wwi novel. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. 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. Apr 06, 2019 audiobook reading of charles yale harrison s wwi novel. Tan cloth lettered in red, black on white illustrated page edges, black top page edges. While the officers influenced the soldiers lives and judgment much of the time, there were some rare occasions when the soldiers did have power.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Beginning in montreal, the scene soon shifts from the cheering crowds, streamers, and music of the. Charles yale harrison 18981954 was a canadian author and journalist. Originally published in 1930, the landmark novel was one of the first to shatter the worlds illusion that war is a glorious endeavour. 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. Harrison s journalistic career was preempted, however, when he enlisted with the 244th overseas battalion of the canadian expeditionary force in 1917 to fight. It is an unimaginably harrowing journey, especially for one not yet.
Charles yale harrison 18981954 was born in philadelphia and raised in a jewish family in montreal. 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. 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. He reportedly left school in grade four following an argument with a teacher about the merchant of venice. Based on the authors own experiences in combat, it tells the story of a young soldier fighting in the trenches of world war i. A new edition of the classic novel about the frontlines of world war i. Charles yale harrison was born in 1898 in philadelphia. Charles yale harrison s littleknown minor masterpiece. He may have fought at flerscourcelette, he most certainly fought at vimy ridge and passchendaele, and from his description he fought at amiens as well. His enthusiasm was quickly quelled by days weeks months in the trenches, where he learned that the enemy was not the guy in the next trench over.
Based on his own experiences in the first world war, charles yale harrison writes a stark and poignant story from the point of view of a young man sent to fight on the western front. Coming years earlier, generals can almost be seen to hold the wisdom one would expect see in an older sibling, while execution suffers the. In the trenches charles yale harrison charles yale. Based on his own experiences in the first world war, charles yale harrison writes a. The soldier tells of the slaughterhouse of war with horrific and uncompromising description.
Based on the authors own experiences in combat, it tells the story of a. He was wounded about this time and did not see fighting after that. Charles yale harrisons littleknown minor masterpiece. Charles yale harrison page on teachingbooks view the page share. Coming years earlier, generals can almost be seen to hold the wisdom one would expect see in an older sibling, while execution suffers the growing pains that the younger child inevitably feels. Throughout the text there are a few instances of heroism and go. Unique among the novels of its day, it has stood the test of time. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. Harrisons journalistic career was preempted, however, when he enlisted with the 244th overseas battalion of the canadian expeditionary force in 1917 to fight. Like wilfred owens, whose poetry focus on the dehumanizing effects of war, harrison also outlines the numerous costs. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.