Re-read this novel after about 40 years, and
loved it even more than the first time. Especially liked the recounting of Henry’s
war experiences, the camaraderie with the other soldiers, the long , dangerous retreat,
and Henry’s escape and decision to desert. Contains two of the greatest paragraph’s
in all of American literature. This is the ending of the second one:
“If people bring so much courage to this world the
world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world
breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those
that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and
the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill
you too but there will be no special hurry.”
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