“A few names were known in full, some in part, some not at all. No one cared. Except in clearly unreasonable cases, a soldier was generally called by the name he preferred, or by what he called himself, and no great effort was made to disentangle Christian names from surnames from nicknames.”
In this novel, the protagonist Paul Berliner, a soldier in the Vietnam War, embarks on a personal quest to escape the horrors of war. His journey takes him from the battlefield to the heart of Paris, challenging the traditional notions of heroism and duty. The story delves into the complexities of human nature, the absurdity of war, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. more
Tim O'Brien is an American novelist born on October 1, 1946. His works, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, explore themes of war and memory through personal experiences and fictional narratives. O'Brien's writing style is unique, utilizing nonlinear storytelling and metafictional techniques. more
“Hitherto, the rights and wrongs had seemed so beautifully simple.”
“one may know how to gain victory, and know not how to use it”
“Konkurrenz ist eine Sublimierung von Krieg.”