This book was powerful. I really didn't know how much I was getting into when I started reading. Besides the fact that it deals with WWI, which honestly I believe has been one of the worst in "modern" times (most horrific conditions, with the trenches and mustard gas, etc. along with the utter lack of mental health care available to soldiers when they returned home) it also addressed homosexuality, in a time way before it was considered even remotely ok, and in a setting (the military) that can be considered one of the most hostile towards it, even today. The author handled the topics brilliantly and really brought home the heartache of personal secrets and betrayal, love and guilt, on top of the heartache of suffering and war in general. I liked the perspective he used to write the book and the "current day" back story of Tristan as a writer. I cannot imagine the life he lived, from beginning to end I felt for him. And where everyone blamed/accused/rejected him for his actions, I can only imagine that they are partly at fault themselves, for putting him in a frame of mind that would allow him to make those choices and commit those actions. This book was eye opening and, in light of the continuing struggle we face today for the exact same things (acceptance of homosexuality and better mental health care for veterans) even though we think we have come so far, it was so so powerful. Wow.