Small wars : a novel

The prizewinning author of The Outcast delivers the emotionally searing story of a marriage in crisis, an unflinching look at lives irrevocably altered by one of history's "small wars." Hal Treherne is a major in the British Army, a young and dedicated soldier on the brink of a brilliant career. When he is transferred to the British colony of Cyprus in 1956, Hal is joined by Clara, his beautiful and supportive wife, and their baby daughters. The Trehernes quickly learn that the Mediterranean is no "sunshine posting," however, and soon Hal is caught up in the battle to defend the island against Cypriots seeking enosis, union with Greece. Leading his men in difficult and bloody skirmishes, after years of peaceful service, Hal at last tastes triumph. But his confidence and pride quickly fade: traumatized by the brutality he witnesses'and thwarted again in his attempts to do the right thing'Hal finds himself well trained in duty but ill equipped for moral battle. A seasoned army wife, Clara shares her husband's sense of obligation. She knows to settle in quickly, make no fuss, smile. But as she struggles to trust her own maternal instincts and resist the anxiety that surges with Hal's frequent absences, Clara grows fearful of her increasingly distant husband. When she needs him most, Clara finds the once-tender Hal a changed man'a betrayal that is only part of the shocking personal crisis to come. What place is there for honor amid cruelty, and what becomes of intimacy in the grinding gears of empire' A passionate and brilliantly researched novel about the effects of war on the men who wage it and the families they leave behind, Small Wars raises important questions that resonate for our own time Fresh off her triumphantly assured debut novel The Outcast, award-winning author Sadie Jones has again delivered a quiet masterpiece in Small Wars, confirming her place in the literary firmament"Jones tries her hand at gory battle scenes, but more compelling are the small inner conflicts of both soldiery and marriage... It's hard to imagine how a novel that deals so deftly with shame, duty and discipline could be set in contemporary England. One wonders where Sadie Jones will go from here." - The Telegraph (UK)Set on the colonial, war-torn island of Cyprus in 1956, Sadie Jones tells the story of a young soldier, Hal Treherne, and the effects of this “small war” on him, his wife Clara, and their family. Reminiscent of classic tales of love and war such as The English Patient and Atonement, Jones’s gripping novel also calls to mind the masterworks of Virginia Woolf and their portrayal of the quiet desperation of a marriage in crisis. "What makes Small Wars so elegantly relevant today is that it asks this: How can well-meaning, decent people flourish and wage wars of dubious purpose at the same time? It's a question that resonates deeply in 21st-century America, where our own soldiers are currently fighting two 'small wars'." - Martha Woodroof, NPRSmall Wars is at once a deeply emotional, meticulously researched work of historical fiction and a profound meditation on war-time atrocities committed both on and off the battlefield. “sadie Jones Has A Long Literary Future Ahead Of Her.” —tracy Chevalier, Author Of Girl With The Pearl Earring Fresh Off Her Triumphantly Assured Debut Novel The Outcast, Award-winning Author Sadie Jones Has Again Delivered A Quiet Masterpiece In Small Wars. Set On The Colonial, War-torn Island Of Cyprus In 1956, Jones Tells The Story Of A Young Solider, Hal Treherne, And The Effects Of This “small War” On Him, His Wife Clara, And Their Family. Reminiscent Of Classic Tales Of Love And War Such As The English Patient And Atonement, Jones’s Gripping Novel Also Calls To Mind The Master Works Of Virginia Woolf And Their Portrayal Of The Quiet Desperation Of A Marriage In Crisis. Small Wars Is At Once A Deeply Emotional, Meticulously Researched Work Of Historical Fiction And A Profound Meditation On War-time Atrocities Committed Both On And Off The Battlefield. Hal Treherne is a major in the British Army, a young and dedicated soldier on the brink of a brilliant career. When he is transferred to the British colony of Cyprus in 1956, he is joined by Clara, his wife, and their baby daughters. The Trehernes quickly learn that the Mediterranean is no "sunshine posting," however, and soon Hal is caught up in the battle to defend the island against Cypriots seeking union with Greece