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Covenant with Death
Covenant with Death | John Harris
1 post | 1 read
They joined for their country. They fought for each other. When war breaks out in 1914, Mark Fenner and his Sheffield friends immediately flock to Kitchener's call. Amid waving flags and boozy celebration, the three men - Fen, his best friend Locky and self-assured Frank, rival for the woman Fen loves - enlist as volunteers to take on the Germans and win glory. Through ramshackle training in sodden England and a stint in arid Egypt, rebellious but brave Fen proves himself to be a natural leader, only undermined by on-going friction with Frank. Headed by terse, tough Sergeant Major Bold, this group of young men form steel-strong bonds, and yearn to face the great adventure of the Western Front. Then, on one summer's day in 1916, Fen and his band of brothers are sent to the Somme, and this very ordinary hero discovers what it means to fight for your life. Stirringly told from the down-to-earth view of everyday soldiers, Covenant with Death is acclaimed as one of the greatest novels about war ever written. Now with a new foreword by Louis de Bernires, author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
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Peterfox123
Covenant with Death | John Harris
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For anyone who wants to understand the motivations and emotions of ordinary men who answered Kitchener‘s call for volunteers, this is an incredible tale. Told by a young man who enlisted in one of the “Pals‘ Battalions” we experience the realities of his service. It‘s a rounded tale which takes us into their lives back home. Read it and you‘ll never again cloud your judgement with misplaced romanticism about the realities of wasteful conflict.

Ms_T Very nice review 👍🏻 5y
Peterfox123 @Ms_T Thank you! 5y
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