[TGX]≡ PDF Covenant with Death John Harris 9780091162702 Books

Covenant with Death John Harris 9780091162702 Books

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Covenant with Death John Harris 9780091162702 Books

I found British author John Harris's novel of WW1, "Covenant With Death" in a note by Louis de Bernieres in his latest book, "The Dust That Falls From Dreams". "Covenant With Death" was originally published in the mid-1950's and is a chronicle of war - climaxing on July 1, 1916 at the Battle of the Somme. That day, the first day of a months-long battle, saw the greatest loss of life in a battle in British history. Bungled battle plans by the brass caused the senseless deaths and maimings of hundreds of thousands of men during the months of the battle. And the deaths were especially wounding to British society, as many of the soldiers were part of "Pals Divisions". These were army divisions made up at the beginning of the war of affinity groups of men. Some were groups formed from the same town or city, some from the same occupations, and some from the same schools and colleges. Obviously, the casualties from action for the Pals Divisions often destroyed whole villages, schools, and other groups.

John Harris - who also wrote under other names - wrote a fictional account of a Pals Division, modeled on the "Sheffield City Battalion". This group was made up of Sheffield men (and boys) who had enlisted in the first days of the war. Harris's novel of these men - which could have degenerated into stereotypes - presented twenty or so soldiers, all slightly different, who are drawn with incredible nuance. The book is written in the voice of Mark Fenner, twenty or so years after the war. Obviously he survives July 1, 1916, but so many others, men who he had known before the war and with whom he had trained and served with, first in Egypt, and then in France, did not.

These men, whose fears and strengths and, in most cases, love of life, are beautifully sketched in by John Harris. There are few women in the novel; this is the story of a man's world that comes to an end on July 1, 1916 amid the rats and the dirt and the bullets and the bombs, and, most of all, the carelessness of the British commanders who thought the "Big Push" would work to drive the Germans back to the east.

This Pals Division was assigned to fight and take Serre from the Germans. I've driven the Serre road and have wandered around a few of the small British cemeteries scattered throughout the Somme region. The graves in the cemeteries mostly have individual names and dates and ranks written on them, but many are noted simply as "An Unknown British Soldier". Some of these men - with other names - have their stories told in John Harris's book. It's not an easy book to read; it's long and filled with death. But it is a story that should be read by anybody interested in WW1 and its battles. Easily the best book I've read on the subject.


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Covenant with Death John Harris 9780091162702 Books Reviews

One of the best books ever written about WW1....no heros or indeed heroics, just ordinary men going to war. Very good variety of characters. Mind-numbing end. This is better than a five stars rating.
It's hard to say that this is one of the "best" novels on war I have ever read. "Best" isn't the right word. "Poignant" is a better word. This novel is one of the most poignant novels I have ever read about war . . . about the Battle of the Somme. 19,240 British soldiers were killed on the first day (which is depicted in the novel). If you want to get a picture of WWI, read this book.
This is a book that you will only read once. It tells of a British "Pals" Battalion formed of civilians in the First World War and taken into battle on 1st July 1916, the Battle of the Somme. John Harris is an incredible writer; he develops the characters to the point where you know them as friends, as brothers, fathers, sons, their hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears. The ending - just be prepared - I wasn't when I first read it and it shook me to the core.
A very good book about WWI and the effect it had on the British culture at that time. It ushered them into the 20th century. Women began working and had more freedom. Out of the Victorian Age into the Industrial Age. Well written, without being gory. Rather matter-of-fact when talking about the scenes of war. Made one understand that a mans' mates were the most important thing to him on the battlefield then as now in the Middle East.
A book for the ages.
I first read this masterpiece nearly 50 years ago. I've just re-read on and the story is still fresh and poignant even now. The story, based on the Sheffield "Pals" battalion, has a real feel of the time and the ultimate tragedy that they and many other "Pals" battalions suffered, especially on that terrible July 1st day in 1916. Harris's final words, "two years in the making, ten minutes in the destruction" are a somber epithet for those men who died.

It is cracking good story, well told, with excellent writing..
The author paints a picture of life in a northern industrial town in England at the outbreak of World War One. We are introduced to many characters, all of whom join a "Pal's Battalion". The story follows to group from training on their local moorland to deployment in Egypt, where they are tasked with guarding the Suez canal. The group bemoans the fact that the "real" war in France and Belgium will be over before they can put their training into action. Soon enough though, they do indeed find themselves in the trenches of France. From then on, the true horror of war comes into play as they take casualties. However, this is only a taste of the horror that waits them as they take part in "The Big Push". Many were, and rightly so, horrified at the Omaha Beach scenes in "Saving Private Ryan". If "Covenant with Death" was made into a movie in a true and graphic reproduction of the events this book portrays, "Ryan" would seem very tame indeed.
A great book.
As I am an American veteran of Vietnam i thought only a vet could have written this. His portrayal of events from basic to battle are spot on. His criticism of general staff well founded as they are generally up to fighting the current war with new weaponry with the last wars tactics. In Vietnam they found American airpower, a key to victory in WWII and a save in Korea against superior Soviet armor, stalemated by asymmetrical warfare by a better general. A good and interesting read.
I found British author John Harris's novel of WW1, "Covenant With Death" in a note by Louis de Bernieres in his latest book, "The Dust That Falls From Dreams". "Covenant With Death" was originally published in the mid-1950's and is a chronicle of war - climaxing on July 1, 1916 at the Battle of the Somme. That day, the first day of a months-long battle, saw the greatest loss of life in a battle in British history. Bungled battle plans by the brass caused the senseless deaths and maimings of hundreds of thousands of men during the months of the battle. And the deaths were especially wounding to British society, as many of the soldiers were part of "Pals Divisions". These were army divisions made up at the beginning of the war of affinity groups of men. Some were groups formed from the same town or city, some from the same occupations, and some from the same schools and colleges. Obviously, the casualties from action for the Pals Divisions often destroyed whole villages, schools, and other groups.

John Harris - who also wrote under other names - wrote a fictional account of a Pals Division, modeled on the "Sheffield City Battalion". This group was made up of Sheffield men (and boys) who had enlisted in the first days of the war. Harris's novel of these men - which could have degenerated into stereotypes - presented twenty or so soldiers, all slightly different, who are drawn with incredible nuance. The book is written in the voice of Mark Fenner, twenty or so years after the war. Obviously he survives July 1, 1916, but so many others, men who he had known before the war and with whom he had trained and served with, first in Egypt, and then in France, did not.

These men, whose fears and strengths and, in most cases, love of life, are beautifully sketched in by John Harris. There are few women in the novel; this is the story of a man's world that comes to an end on July 1, 1916 amid the rats and the dirt and the bullets and the bombs, and, most of all, the carelessness of the British commanders who thought the "Big Push" would work to drive the Germans back to the east.

This Pals Division was assigned to fight and take Serre from the Germans. I've driven the Serre road and have wandered around a few of the small British cemeteries scattered throughout the Somme region. The graves in the cemeteries mostly have individual names and dates and ranks written on them, but many are noted simply as "An Unknown British Soldier". Some of these men - with other names - have their stories told in John Harris's book. It's not an easy book to read; it's long and filled with death. But it is a story that should be read by anybody interested in WW1 and its battles. Easily the best book I've read on the subject.