
The Thin Red Line
James Jones(Author)
Penguin Classics (Publisher)
Published on 5. June 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
528 pages
978-0-14-139324-7 (ISBN)
Description
'Moves so intensely and inexorably that it almost seems like the war it is describing' The New York Times Book Review
'Is it really worth it to die, to be dead, just to prove to everybody that you're not a coward?'
On Guadalcanal in the south Pacific, the soldiers of C Company are about to enter the war. The men know they face their baptism of fire. But none know if they will be one of 'the lucky ones' to make it safely off the island. From Captain Stein, who feels like a father to his troops, and 'Mad' Sergeant Welsh, condemning all nations while swigging gin from his canteen, to Private Bell, who just wants to get home to his wife, they will discover the line that divides sanity from madness, and life from death.
A scathing critique of heroism, The Thin Red Line is among the greatest masterpieces of war writing.
'The men are real, the words are real, death is real, imminent and immediate' Los Angeles Times
'Is it really worth it to die, to be dead, just to prove to everybody that you're not a coward?'
On Guadalcanal in the south Pacific, the soldiers of C Company are about to enter the war. The men know they face their baptism of fire. But none know if they will be one of 'the lucky ones' to make it safely off the island. From Captain Stein, who feels like a father to his troops, and 'Mad' Sergeant Welsh, condemning all nations while swigging gin from his canteen, to Private Bell, who just wants to get home to his wife, they will discover the line that divides sanity from madness, and life from death.
A scathing critique of heroism, The Thin Red Line is among the greatest masterpieces of war writing.
'The men are real, the words are real, death is real, imminent and immediate' Los Angeles Times
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
362 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-14-139324-7 (9780141393247)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
James Jones (1921-1977) was born in Robinson, Illinois and enlisted in the US army in 1939, serving in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii during Pearl Harbor and later in Guadalcanal in the Pacfic, where he was wounded in action. He is the author of many acclaimed novels, including the National Book Award-winner From Here to Eternity.