The Sergeants' Tale

by Bernice Rubens

It is 1947, one year before the Israeli War of Independence, and Palestine is still under the British Mandate. However, young Israelis are flocking to the leadership of Menachim Begin and his Irgun terrorist movement in an attempt to overthrow their rulers. Two British sergeants are kidnapped by the Irgun. They will be executed unless there is a widespread amnesty for the Irgun freedom fighters—and so begins a hunt throughout Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the whole of Palestine to find and liberate the two innocent young men. Based on a true story,  The Sergeants' Tale  illuminates an historical episode, and also has enormous contemporary poignancy.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Jewish, Fiction

217 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2003

About the author

Bernice Rubens was born in Cardiff, Wales in July 1928. She began writing at the age of 35, when her children started nursery school. Her second novel, Madame Sousatzka (1962), was filmed by John Schlesinger filmed with Shirley MacLaine in the leading role in 1988. Her fourth novel, The Elected Member, won the 1970 Booker prize. She was shortlisted for the same prize again in 1978 for A Five Year Sentence. Her last novel, The Sergeants’ Tale, was published in 2003. She was an honorary vice-president of International PEN and served as a Booker judge in 1986. Bernice Rubens died in 2004 aged 76.

Reviews

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best book that bernice Rubens has ever written, but an enjoyable read. Some slightly unbelievable twists in the story, especially with the decision making of the British Mandate Command. The end of the story felt rushed, almost as if she wanted to get the story finished. There could also have been more made of the gay love story between one of the sergeant's and Irgun terrorist - pity as this could have been really interesting.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Millar and Will Griffiths are intelligence operatives in the British Army working in Palestine. The locals want to British out and have two factions fighting for this cause. The Irgun are quite violent and will use force to secure their freedom, whereas the Hagannah have a more passive and peaceful approach.

There is a family where the father is an Irgun and his two children, Joseph and Hannah, are Hagannah but their mother refuses to allow political talk in the house. The British hang whoever is caught from the Irgun and the Irgun have decided to fight back with dire consequences for everyone mentioned in this review.

This story is told from multiple perspectives which makes the reader sympathise with many characters. I really enjoyed this book as the storyteller successfully conveyed everyone's beliefs and thoughts. No one thought the sequence of events were right but the justification was one of the main points of interest.

This was my first Bernice Rubens book and I will definitely read more.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rubens is as always, engaging, with layers of conflict in loyalty and love at issue. However, Ruben focuses on the British-Jewish conflicts while for most of the book glossing over the Palestinian aspects of the conflict with the terse, "they didn't go to the gas chamber." Surely there is more to say. In the final words of the book, she says it, succinctly and purely belying the complexity of the conflict.

[John Newcomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and depressing novel based on true events, with considerable historical context to current events.
We are in 1947 in what was then Palestine/Trans Jordan under the British Mandate. The large Jewish community is hoping to create the state of Israel, whilst the occupying British forces are attempting to keep the peace. Some militant Jews under Menacham Begin intend to remove the British by force and are deemed terrorists, whilst the moderates under David Ben Gurion want a peaceful solution.
When three militants are captured raiding a British Arsenal, Begin orders the capture of two British soldiers with the threat that should the anti Semetic governor, General Barker hang the alleged terrorists, so the British prisoners would face the same fate.
Intriging and surprisingly pertinent.

[Merrilie Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story particularly relevant to recent events in Palestine and hard line Jewish militants. I had no idea about events that took place in 1947 so this story was not just a history lesson but also an insight into the beginning of the Israeli State.

As always Betnice Rubens writes most beautifully. It is a thought provoking, page turning and a deeply moving story and although I missed her dark humour in the telling I really appreciated her ability to convey emotion simply and so effectively.

[Benjamin Farr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the true story of the Sergeants Affair - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ser... - this simplistic tale reimagines the life of Sergeants Martin & Paice who were kidnapped and murdered during the British Mandate of Palestine.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

poorly written for me, no thank you

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging, easy read. I enjoyed the historical background and it has inspired me to research the period of the British Mandate in Palestine as I realise how little I know. The book certainly shows the tensions which were prevalent in ordinary households as a result of the different views of family members. Britain doesn't cover herself in glory, refusing entry to the Jewish refugees from Europe who were fleeing the anti-Semitism of World War II, "preferring an Arab alliance with its promise of oil". It was interesting to read of the Irgun organisation, much more militant and violent than Haganah. Both organisations wanted the British out of Palestine but went about it in different ways. Also, to learn that Menachim Begin was far more radical than David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Dayan and Yitzhak Rabin who would all have their roles in independent Israel. For me it was an informative book and while the plot was an ordinary war story, the background added the fascination.

[Perlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This distressing story is based b a true event that occurred during Mandatory Palestine ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Serg...). I haven't researched enough to know whether it was common for a single family to contain Irgun members as well as Haganah, but it seems plausible. It's well written, but ends rather abruptly. I don't think there's any truth to the author's idea that Me'ah She'arim was a hotbed of Irgun sympathizers, notwithstanding Begin's disguise as a chassidic Jew.

[Ronke · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book, great writer

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bernice Rubens is one of my favourites - but this was not one of her best. Still, probably better than a lot of others.