A review by ditten
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"Indeed grief is not the clear melancholy the young believe it. It is like a siege in a tropical city."

Return of the Soldier explores shell shock, love, loss, class, and grief set alongside WWI as a soldier returns from the war with shell shock, having lost all memories of the past 15 years, including of his wife and dead son. 

It's not a perfect story, but still an impactful one.