A Son At The Front

by Edith Wharton Narrated by Geoffrey Giuliano, The Hammer

Overview

In the realm of classic literature, there exists a treasure trove of stories that capture the essence of human emotions and experiences during times of conflict. One such masterpiece is "A Son at the Front," a novel written by Edith Wharton and published in 1923. This poignant work of fiction delves into the lives of its characters against the backdrop of World War I, weaving a narrative that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the unrelenting toll of war.

The story primarily revolves around the protagonist, John Campton, an American painter residing in Paris. John is a devoted father, and his world revolves around his beloved son, George. The novel traces John's inner turmoil as he wrestles with his desire to protect his son from the horrors of war while also coming to terms with his own artistic ambitions.

As the novel unfolds, we witness the complex interplay of personal and societal forces on the characters. John Campton's internal conflict reflects the broader dilemma faced by countless individuals during the Great War. The choice between pursuing one's creative aspirations and succumbing to the overwhelming demands of duty and patriotism is a recurring theme that resonates with readers even today.

Edith Wharton, celebrated for her incisive social commentary and keen insight into human nature, portrays the characters in "A Son at the Front" with depth and nuance. John's struggles are a testament to the emotional turmoil experienced by parents who see their children heading to the frontlines of battle. The fear, anxiety, and helplessness that John grapples with are emotions that transcend time and place, making his character all the more relatable to modern readers.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Largely criticized or ignored by a war-weary public when it was originally published in 1922, A Son at the Front is an extraordinarily poignant novel chronicling the effects of WWI on painter John Campton and his only child, George. Because his American parents were visiting France at the time of his birth, George is called to duty in the French army. Campton, his ex-wife, Julia Brant, and her husband, wealthy banker Anderson Brant, immediately butt heads over how to keep George safely at a desk job. Fate intervenes in the person of George himself, who transfers to an infantry regimentto the horror of Julia and the secret admiration of Brant and Campton. As the war rages on, Campton learns not only the value of his son, but empathy and sensitivity: ``never before, at least not consciously, [had] he thought of himself and the few beings he cared for as part of a greater whole.... But the last four months had shown him man as a defenceless animal.... That was what war did; that was why those who best understood it in all its farthest-reaching abomination willingly gave their lives to put an end to it.'' Wharton movingly portrays those left behind during warnot the wives and children but the devastated parents, who are forced to go on living at the cost of their own flesh and blood. Heartrending, tragic, powerful, this is not to be missed. (Dec.)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159417725
Publisher:	Icon Audio Arts
Publication date:	10/03/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

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