The First Casualty
2 journalers for this copy...
Synopsis
It is Flanders in June 1917: a British officer and celebrated poet, is shot dead, killed not by German fire, but while recuperating from shell shock well behind the lines. A young English soldier is arrested and, although he protests his innocence, charged with his murder. Douglas Kingsley is a conscientious objector, previously a detective with the London police, now imprisoned for his beliefs. He is released and sent to France in order to secure a conviction. Forced to conduct his investigations amidst the hell of The Third Battle of Ypres, Kingsley soon discovers that both the evidence and the witnesses he needs are quite literally disappearing into the mud that surrounds him. Ben Elton's tenth novel is a gut-wrenching historical drama which explores some fundamental questions. What is murder? What is justice in the face of unimaginable daily slaughter? And where is the honour in saving a man from the gallows if he is only to be returned to die in a suicidal battle? As the gap between legally-sanctioned and illegal murder becomes evermore blurred, Kingsley quickly learns that the first casualty when war comes is truth.
It is Flanders in June 1917: a British officer and celebrated poet, is shot dead, killed not by German fire, but while recuperating from shell shock well behind the lines. A young English soldier is arrested and, although he protests his innocence, charged with his murder. Douglas Kingsley is a conscientious objector, previously a detective with the London police, now imprisoned for his beliefs. He is released and sent to France in order to secure a conviction. Forced to conduct his investigations amidst the hell of The Third Battle of Ypres, Kingsley soon discovers that both the evidence and the witnesses he needs are quite literally disappearing into the mud that surrounds him. Ben Elton's tenth novel is a gut-wrenching historical drama which explores some fundamental questions. What is murder? What is justice in the face of unimaginable daily slaughter? And where is the honour in saving a man from the gallows if he is only to be returned to die in a suicidal battle? As the gap between legally-sanctioned and illegal murder becomes evermore blurred, Kingsley quickly learns that the first casualty when war comes is truth.
Bucket loads of stereotypes and caricatures, but I don't think the author intended them to be funny.
War is hell determined by old buffers behind the lines etc etc.
Elton is trying to be serious and he shouldn't. His contributions to the Blackadder series say more about war than this does.
An easy read but not really worth it.
War is hell determined by old buffers behind the lines etc etc.
Elton is trying to be serious and he shouldn't. His contributions to the Blackadder series say more about war than this does.
An easy read but not really worth it.
Journal Entry 3 by MrsDanvers at Caffe Nero, King's Parade OBCZ in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Sunday, February 22, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/22/2009 UTC) at Caffe Nero, King's Parade OBCZ in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Hi and if you are new to all this, welcome to Bookcrossing.
It would really be appreciated if you would make a comment about the book, where you found it and what you thought of it.
The book is now yours to read, keep, or pass it on. We'd like to know where it travels to, and if you don't want to join you can do this anonymously.
If you would like to know what happens to the book after you have passed it on please join. It doesn't cost anything, it's private and it's interesting to travel by proxy around the world.
This book is a part of the BookCrossing "The Reader" Challenge: to find and release books that somehow relate to the award winning book “The Reader” by Bernhard Schlink. The movie based on the book opens January, 2009 (in the U.S and UK).
If you have found this book before February 22 and join BookCrossing, you can enter our The Reader movie contest. Simply attend a screening of "The Reader" and save your ticket stub. Print your screen name on the back of the stub and send it to BookCrossing: The Reader Contest at 323 Pine Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864. We will hold a drawing shortly after February 22, 2009 to determine the winners and you will be notified by email if you have won. One more reason to sign up for BookCrossing today! (Full details available online at www.bookcrossing.com. )
If you do join, I hope you'll put my name down - mrsdanvers - as your referring member.
Hi and if you are new to all this, welcome to Bookcrossing.
It would really be appreciated if you would make a comment about the book, where you found it and what you thought of it.
The book is now yours to read, keep, or pass it on. We'd like to know where it travels to, and if you don't want to join you can do this anonymously.
If you would like to know what happens to the book after you have passed it on please join. It doesn't cost anything, it's private and it's interesting to travel by proxy around the world.
This book is a part of the BookCrossing "The Reader" Challenge: to find and release books that somehow relate to the award winning book “The Reader” by Bernhard Schlink. The movie based on the book opens January, 2009 (in the U.S and UK).
If you have found this book before February 22 and join BookCrossing, you can enter our The Reader movie contest. Simply attend a screening of "The Reader" and save your ticket stub. Print your screen name on the back of the stub and send it to BookCrossing: The Reader Contest at 323 Pine Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864. We will hold a drawing shortly after February 22, 2009 to determine the winners and you will be notified by email if you have won. One more reason to sign up for BookCrossing today! (Full details available online at www.bookcrossing.com. )
If you do join, I hope you'll put my name down - mrsdanvers - as your referring member.
A great Ben Elton, more feeling and depth than his previous novels. Though still with the same insight into people.
Picked it up in Cafe Nero, Kings Parade Cambridge (UK) and intend to return it either to their or to another Bookcrossing location that I can find nearby. I stumbled across bookcrossing by accident!
CAUGHT IN CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGESHIRE UNITED KINGDOM
Picked it up in Cafe Nero, Kings Parade Cambridge (UK) and intend to return it either to their or to another Bookcrossing location that I can find nearby. I stumbled across bookcrossing by accident!
CAUGHT IN CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGESHIRE UNITED KINGDOM
A great Ben Elton, more feeling and depth than his previous novels. Though still with the same insight into people.
Picked it up in Cafe Nero, Kings Parade Cambridge (UK) and intend to return it either to their or to another Bookcrossing location that I can find nearby. I stumbled across bookcrossing by accident!
CAUGHT IN CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGESHIRE UNITED KINGDOM
Picked it up in Cafe Nero, Kings Parade Cambridge (UK) and intend to return it either to their or to another Bookcrossing location that I can find nearby. I stumbled across bookcrossing by accident!
CAUGHT IN CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGESHIRE UNITED KINGDOM
