There are virtually no women in these books. They are books about men and war. War changes a man’s priorities, his judgment, his morality. War educes from men an array of manly virtues. Men at war demonstrate bravery, loyalty and heroism. They carry heavy loads and march long distances. They defend, protect, fight, kill, sacrifice, suffer and, in many cases, die.
Some men, like Henry Fleming in The Red Badge of Courage ask, Will I be brave enough? Will I be scared? Will I cut and run? Others like Sergeant Porter, A Walk In The Sun, unquestioningly give their all but crack under pressure. Still others, like some of Sergeant Porter's soldiers, handle the pressure with a cynical humor and optimism. They wise-crack, tease and talk about home knowing as they do that their walk in the sun may be their last.
German soldiers in All Quiet on the Western Front face the chaos head on. This book, dark and hopeless in contrast to A Walk In The Sun, is graphic in its depiction of death, mangled bodies, amputations, blood and pain. Paul Baumer, the young soldier protagonist in this tale, does not so much question his courage and manliness as he questions war, its purpose and his reason for being there.
The most artful story-telling is found in The Bridge Over the River Kwai. British POWs in WWII are forced to build a bridge as part of the Burma-Siam railway. It's all for the “great empire,” the enemy. Colonel Nicholson will tolerate nothing short of obedience to the law and strict adherence to a gentleman’s code of honor. Colonel Nicholson never weakens and never gives less than one hundred percent. Neither do Warden, Joyce and Shears in Force 316. Perversely for all, obedience and honor lead to disaster. Warden, who took the “only line of conduct possible,” destroys his allies; Nicholson, who carried out orders, saves the enemy’s bridge. War stands reality on its head.
The weakest of these four novels was The Red Badge of Courage which I found to move slowly without much plot. I was never quite sure what the main character, Henry Fleming, was all about. The other three novels, not necessarily with much more plot, were more satisfying in their message and drew me into the dilemma and plight of the men. I have seen none of the movies associated with any of the books and I'm not eager to see any of them because I liked the books.
