NOTE: This review may contain crucial spoilers.
The novel, The Wars, is as much a story about war as it is about a young man's troubles with love. In fact, were it not for the dreary setting, this novel would still hold its own as a masterpiece. Whilst roaming the blooded fields, Robert Ross, a nineteen-year-old Canadian, struggles with the concept of love. This is truly an amazing story in that, although circumstances are tough, the predominant theme is still love, a quality that cannot fade away. The ugly truth of soldiers and war is brought about in a way that only parallels the love story, further confusing young Robert.
Being known as one of the greatest novels concerning World War I, the logical place to start is how the author, Timothy Findley, expressed his views of the war in the trenches. He details everything from the chlorine gas used, to the dreaded rifts that could collapse at any instant. 'The ammonia in their urine would turn the chlorine into harmless crystals that could not be breathed.' (page 141) I thought it was actually educational to learn this; not for the fact that I would ever be presented with this challenge, but because it is an interested tidbit about the war, that made me appreciate to what great lengths soldiers undertook to stay alive. The toughest thing to deal with, was that dying by bomb was at times preferable than just sitting in the trenches. No one could stand watching their friends being torn apart by bullets, and the thought that if bombed they could all die together, was pleasing to them.
'He'd found a model he could emulate ' a man to whom killing wasn't killing at all but only throwing.' (page 32) This would have to be one of my favorite passages of the novel. Timothy Findley portrays Robert as a man who does not like to kill, as can be seen in the scene when he must shoot the horse. Therefore, he made an ingenious attempt to find a reason for the Canadian to kill. 'Throwing' hardly sounded like a gruesome word, and if Robert stuck this term into his head, he could 'throw' as much as he wanted. His mindset is shattered when an important event arises. 'The sound of it would haunt him to the day he died.' Referring to a bird singing, this is said right after a German is spotted, seemingly unarmed, who lets them retreat. Robert thought he was safe, until the man was killed. Next to the German was a sniper rifle. The thought of knowing that he could have and would have been killed at any instant shattered Robert's ideas of killing, leading him into madness later on.
Robert's trouble with understanding women begins with this passage: 'All because he wouldn't fight a man she didn't love and whom he'd never seen.' (page 13) He could not understand why he must 'defend his honor' by fighting a man who was interested in his love. 'Being loved was letting others feed from your resources''
Timothy Findley's writing is filled with beautiful passages and a sense or realism is attained by his style of writing. Sometimes, the best way to clearly 'show' something, is by writing in mixed words and unfinished sentences. The style of writing is not only unique to a few authors, but can convey the madness around the characters. For a novel of World War I, the style is used to its most powerful and intense extreme.

I guess I'll be the token American to review this work.

I first read Pilgrim in November of 2000. It easily became one of my "desert-island-dozen" choices. From that point, I made it a mission to read as much of Timothy Findley as I could. So I started with "The Wars".

Although this book seems short at first(my copy checks in at a mere 254 pages)don't be fooled, this book is much deeper than that. His Hemingway-esque approach keeps the pages turning quickly. It moves so quickly that by the time you've finished it, your left in awe as if hit by a truck you never saw coming.

The tale would definitely fall in the "coming of age" category. As it is set in France during World War One, the potential for making a man out of a boy is clearly evident. The protagonist, Robert Ross, surrounded my the madness of war reaches his breaking point and, in an act that would seem unjustly called treasonist, finds the essence of true humanity among fields of mortar fire, poison gas, and flame throwers.

As I said this book moves quickly (I read it in two days). With such a short time commitment and so much reward, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

This book was great. One of the few that I wish never ended. Plus it was written by a Canadian, a true bonus. His use of imagery and historical facts make a effective one-two punch for your imagination. A must read for any war enthusist. Much more to tell but I do not want to ruin it for you.

fred.