Three Soldiers

A grimly realistic depiction of army life, the story follows a trio of idealistic young men as they contend with the regimentation, violence, and boredom of military service during the First World War. Fuselli, a store clerk from San Francisco, embraces conformity in the hope of gaining a promotion to impress his hometown sweetheart. Chrisfield, an easygoing Indiana farm boy, and Andrews, a gifted musician, are repelled by the army's mind-numbing routines and battlefield horrors. Vivid and moving in its exploration of warfare's dehumanizing effects, this powerful novel remains chillingly contemporary in its relevance.