Excellently written novel about friendship, guilt, loss, cowardice, love, hate, and war. Nothing in the plot was predictable, and I enjoyed this thoroughly. ( )

Septiembre de 1919. Tristan Sadler, de veintiún años, coge un tren de Londres a Norwich para devolverle a Marian Bancroft las cartas que ésta escribió a su difunto hermano, Will, durante la Gran Guerra. Will y Tristan tuvieron una relación íntima, pero las cartas son sólo el pretexto de la visita. En realidad, Tristan guarda un doloroso secreto en lo más hondo de su ser, un secreto que está dispuesto a compartir con la hermana de su amigo, si finalmente consigue reunir el valor necesario.

El pacifista es una novela de heroísmo, amor y traición en el universo moralmente nebuloso de la guerra. En un entorno donde imperan la crueldad y la sinrazón, dos jovencísimos soldados libran una amarga batalla contra la complejidad de sus emociones. Su amistad, primero en el campo de instrucción y después en las trincheras del norte de Francia, trae consigo la intensa luz del autoconocimiento y la felicidad, pero también las tinieblas del desconcierto y el dolor. ( )

The Great War is over, it's 1919 and twenty year old Tristan is travelling to Norwich to deliver a clutch of letters to Marian, the sister of his old army buddy Will, who was shot in the War for treason.

The story is told by Tristan over three timeframes, the War, 1919 and 1979. The characters are strong, the plot riveting, and there are quite a few plot twists.

The friendship between Tristan and Will is explored in detail as is their falling out with each other and the terrible events that lead to Will's execution.

A compelling read. ( )

I really liked it even though it turned out to be quite different from what I'd expected. A very emotional read. ( )

In 1919, Tristan Sadler is on a train traveling from London to Norwich to deliver a packet of letters to Marian, sister of his friend, Will Bancroft, who died in the Great War. Tristan was seventeen when he enlisted in the British Army after being disowned by his family. At training camp, he and Will shared a romantic connection. Tristan hopes to find the courage to tell Will’s sister the story of what happened to her brother and of his own role. We also gain insight into Tristan’s early years. Marian is in a quandary herself and we learn about her situation.

This story is told in alternating time frames between post-war 1919 and wartime 1916 from Tristan’s first-person perspective. It takes a look at the morality of war. Several conscientious objectors are key players in this tragedy. There were apparently different types of objectors. A conscientious objector will not fight but agrees to serve in other ways. An absolutist takes a hard line and refuses to serve the war effort in any capacity. Will takes a stand for what he believes is right, and his family suffers the consequences.

The book covers a lot of territory. We gain deep insight into the psychological profiles of the main characters (Tristan, Will, and Marian). It addresses themes such as identity, betrayal, courage, cowardice, loss, guilt, and grief. It also explores family dynamics, social pressures, and the changing roles for women. It would lend itself well to a book group discussion.
( )