From the pen of this famous Spanish author comes a magnificent and searching study of human beings in time of war.
Julio Desnoyers, a wealthy young Spanish American, tries to escape the dirt, blood, and horror of World War I. Why should he fight on foreign soil for a country that is his father's land and not his own? But everywhere he turns, war and its ravages follow Julio, changing everything. His lover Marguerite no longer desires their old life of abandoned intimacy, and his father has no use for his cowardly, profligate son.
When Julio finally decides to fight, the world and his family know him for a different man.
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"I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I first started reading this book, but overall I'm impressed! The beginning reads like beautiful poetry. I'd say the middle half of the book was all fluff, but Vicente's description of the war and aftermath closed the book with perfection!"
— Ashleigb (4 out of 5 stars)
" Excellent description of WWI in France. "
— Phillip, 10/11/2013" An extraordinary book where human emotion is leveled to a raw core. "
— David, 7/24/2013" Amazing look at European culture and ideals right before facing a world war. Even as a teen, I understood exactly what the author meant in his portrait. Insightful, yet not preachy. "
— Stacey, 5/19/2013" A classic I had never read and suddenly felt the desire. It is 100% worthy of all the praise. "
— Mary, 1/21/2012" Profound and deeply disturbing. And this book took me nearly a week to read. Whew, powerful stuff. "
— Bradley, 12/16/2011" This book was a bestseller in the early 1920's and now you can hardly find it. I think this book may have been too accurate in showing the danger Germany posed to the world. "
— Glenn, 8/5/2011" Very good book; essential reading for anyone interested in preNazi German psyche. An old book so not written for a modern audience. "
— Marie, 2/2/2011" Opened up the World War I era in a creative way...through the eyes of a South American family living in Paris. "
— John, 4/25/2010Vicente Blasco Ibáñez (1867–1928), Spanish novelist, born in Valencia, dealt in realistic fashion with provincial life and social revolution. Notable works are Blood and Sand, The Cabin, and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which earned him world fame.
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.