The Great Promise is a quick and entertaining
read, based on the real life exploits of the author's grandfather Frederick
George Coxen during WWI. The book is divided between a general third person
omniscient war narrative and Fred's personal diary entries, enriched with the
occasional suppositions of the author.
The main action of the book begins, in medias res, on the 23rd of August 1914, on which date Fred peruses his earlier diary entries. This gives the reader an understanding of the prior events leading up to this date.
In the opening chapter, we share in the excitement Fred felt before the realities of war set in. We read of his enthusiasm to join the front lines and we see the joy and excitement of the French citizenry. However, reality sets in quickly and the glamour and glitz soon fades, as it should.
As the Germans snap at their heels, Fred and his comrades are forced to retreat for an extended, hellish march. Uniforms are soiled, food and water are hard to come by, the heat is oppressive and time drags by with painful slowness. There is constant shelling and constant danger.
The author gives us the `big picture' by revealing select dispatches from Commander-In-Chief Sir John French. However, it is Fred's matter-of-fact journal entries that are the most riveting. His tales range from getting lost between enemy lines to having to repair communication wires in exposed, dangerous conditions. Chapters four though seven were the most exciting for me and contained the majority of Fred's entries. Soldiers died from friendly fire. Rotting corpses lay unattended, and buried ones were exhumed by shell blasts. Fred had to constantly fix communication wires, a very dangerous task. When he takes comfort in sleeping on a wet mattress, we see the full extent of his misery.
The epilogue came as a pleasant relief, to see that after so many hardships, Fred managed to survive and prosper. The Great Promise is a testament to the human spirit, and shows how a brave soul can persevere through the harshest of conditions.
It is stated in the book that Fred felt guilty over not contacting his deceased comrades' families. I found this aspect of the book the least convincing. A man who had been through so much should not have felt a shred of guilt. I think that in the end Fred should have felt not guilt but solace and pride, for having sacrificed so much for his country.
Kudos to his grandson for preserving this noble tale for posterity.
The main action of the book begins, in medias res, on the 23rd of August 1914, on which date Fred peruses his earlier diary entries. This gives the reader an understanding of the prior events leading up to this date.
In the opening chapter, we share in the excitement Fred felt before the realities of war set in. We read of his enthusiasm to join the front lines and we see the joy and excitement of the French citizenry. However, reality sets in quickly and the glamour and glitz soon fades, as it should.
As the Germans snap at their heels, Fred and his comrades are forced to retreat for an extended, hellish march. Uniforms are soiled, food and water are hard to come by, the heat is oppressive and time drags by with painful slowness. There is constant shelling and constant danger.
The author gives us the `big picture' by revealing select dispatches from Commander-In-Chief Sir John French. However, it is Fred's matter-of-fact journal entries that are the most riveting. His tales range from getting lost between enemy lines to having to repair communication wires in exposed, dangerous conditions. Chapters four though seven were the most exciting for me and contained the majority of Fred's entries. Soldiers died from friendly fire. Rotting corpses lay unattended, and buried ones were exhumed by shell blasts. Fred had to constantly fix communication wires, a very dangerous task. When he takes comfort in sleeping on a wet mattress, we see the full extent of his misery.
The epilogue came as a pleasant relief, to see that after so many hardships, Fred managed to survive and prosper. The Great Promise is a testament to the human spirit, and shows how a brave soul can persevere through the harshest of conditions.
It is stated in the book that Fred felt guilty over not contacting his deceased comrades' families. I found this aspect of the book the least convincing. A man who had been through so much should not have felt a shred of guilt. I think that in the end Fred should have felt not guilt but solace and pride, for having sacrificed so much for his country.
Kudos to his grandson for preserving this noble tale for posterity.
Peter Payne
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