Jules Romains (1885–1972)

I was engaged with Romains' long series of novels "Men of Good Will" for several years. This was my ninth volume counting backwards. It is in the running for "The world's Longest Novel" and is ambitious. We have come to WWI, and as a great many of the French survivors had to do, we come to the terrible battle that lasted a year and a half, and killed a very large number of soldiers of both sides. Some of the main characters survive it, and some do not. As the original publication date was show more 1938, it seems quite prophetic of what was to come. The translation is quite able. show less

Our exploration of French society has now come forward to the period of the Moroccan crisis, and the realization that if war does come to this settled Europe,the cost will be huge. There is an interesting excursus into the french Bond Market, with the coverage of a massive and fraudulent stock issue. there's an air of expectancy as Jallez's political career gathers steam, and Jerphanion is finding his footing in the world of provincial education,

As we move through the massive novel, "Men of Good Will", we come to the build up to World War One. Both Jallez, the politician, and Jerphanion, are politically involved, but are seriously appalled when the continent is dissolved in the catastrophe. The effort of keeping track of the characters is taxing, but the attempt to be coherent under the circumstance is inspiring.

the immense ordeal of Verdun is over. But two more years of war stretch before Jerphanion and his friends. The war grinds them all down, and we see how their idealism is further eroded, and their gratitude for being spared becomes a larger part of their existence. One of the better episodes of this immense canvas.