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Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. "Be a good little soldier"By R. DelPartoOne of the quintessential writers in British Literature Ford Madox Ford typifies the period of Modernism and The Good Soldier is a good example. Although the book is quite short with over 140 pages; Ford writes of a deeper meaning within the storyline; especially between the main characters of Edward and Leonora Ashburnham and the intrigue that surrounds their marriage and relationship. However; an interconnectedness that is disjointed and resonates of the time period in which the story was written about the turn of the century and several factors show within each chapter. And as one has noted; it is not a story about war on the battlefield but one of conflicting relations.Similarly to Modernist writers of the early twentieth century; Fordrsquo;s writing in Soldier falls within the lines of Henry James and Willa Cather. It is not so much what is written in so little pages of a book but the content and the intricacies of the characters that play out intensely that one cannot simply read between the lines but with careful and immense understanding. Without revealing too many details; consider the time and place in history and how James and Catherrsquo;s writings focused on natural and social realism but shaded with metaphors and allusions. But when metaphors are stripped away; the interactions and observations of the characters are revealed; especially complications between Edward and Leonora; their relationship appeared upon the surface typical for the period; well to do and upper middle class; but underneath the surface it was unconventional veiled with indiscretions. Subtly suggested; traditions of the nineteenth century were a thing of the past and hints of a bit of mystery and tragedy to the storyline. The Good Soldier is an enticing story that may intrigue the curious reader; and that may come to fruition by the last chapter. Definitely; the book is a page-turner and afterwards; may be one of those a-hah moments.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Good job!By C. EbelingThis has been on my reading bucket list since it first showed up on a recommended list distributed in a British lit survey course I took in college. It continued to show up; like "Best of the 20th Century" lists. Now Ive found out why. From its great opening line that sounds a tad Russian--"This is the saddest story I have ever heard"--to its last revelation of many revelations of character and the human condition--it is always in top artistic form.It predates The Great Gatsby by a decade and Im guessing Fitzgerald read it. The first person narrative structure begins similarly; one man; the American John Dowell; discounting himself as a major player as he promises to tell the story of a bigger player; the British Captain Edward Asburnham; the "good soldier" of the title. Like Gatsby; the circles in which they move are largely affluent; and marriage conventions are flouted. But there the similarities begin to disappear. FMFs characters are more self-deceived than self-made; and there are the cultural contrasts of American vs. European character and protestant vs. Catholic tossed in for good measure. John Dowell proves to be a difficult narrator: though he suggests that it is the understandable problem of ordering memory that he builds the story hesitantly and thus sometimes doubles back to fill in more facts; the tangled story telling may be due as much to his own reluctance to deal with certain truths until he is finally ready. He may not be as much of a bystander as he initially suggests; or as innocent.To say more would spoil the plot. This is an absorbing read; and relatively short. It is also worth reading as a model of modern literary art. It is well informed by the recent arrival of psychology; it strains against the rigidity of Victorian and Edwardian social codes; it smashes Aristotles rules about plot progression. How the story is told is as important as the story. Energy electrifies it and that makes it a pleasure to read despite the fact that it deals considerably with pathetic human weaknesses.The critical introduction is reliable as most Penguin classic supplementary essays are; and is best read afterward since there are spoilers. Helpful notes do not intrude on the text but are discretely listed at the end.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. They Were All "Good People" - maybeBy R. J. MarsellaThe Good Soldier as narrated by one of the four main characters is a series of reminiscences around the relationships and hypocrisy that develops during the friendship of two married couples; one American and one British. Slowly the somewhat dark interior lives of each is revealed by his linking of seemingly unrelated events. Infidelities; financial deceits and manipulations are revealed and brushed aside by the narrators insistence that they were all" good people".A well regarded and influential modernist short novel that is well worth reading. I read that Ford was influenced by the works of Guy De Maupassant and this book did remind me of some of De Maupassants short fictions. Very penetrating psychological insights slowly revealed by one of the participants.