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The End of Innocence: A Novel
In this enthralling story of love, loss, and divided loyalties, two students fall in love on the eve of WWI and must face a world at war—from opposing sides.
Cambridge, MA, 1914: Helen Windship Brooks, the precocious daughter of the prestigious Boston family, is struggling to find herself at the renowned Harvard-Radcliffe university when carefree British playboy, Riley Spencer, and his brooding German poet-cousin, Wils Brandl, burst into her sheltered world. As Wils quietly helps the beautiful, spirited Helen navigate Harvard, they fall for each other against a backdrop of tyrannical professors, intellectual debates, and secluded boat rides on the Charles River.
But with foreign tensions mounting and the country teetering on the brink of World War I, German-born Wils finds his future at Harvard—and in America—increasingly in danger. When both cousins are called to fight on opposing sides of the same war, Helen must decide if she is ready to fight her own battle for what she loves most.
Based on the true story behind a mysterious and controversial World War I memorial at this world-famous university, The End of Innocence sweeps readers from the elaborate elegance of Boston's high society to Harvard's hallowed halls to Belgium's war-ravaged battlefields, offering a powerful and poignant vision of love and hope in the midst of a violent, broken world.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
104 people are currently reading
2079 people want to read
About the author
Allegra Jordan
6 books31 followersMy writing seeks to bring 10,000 joys to the 10,000 sorrows of life. New poetry collection release: WE INTERRUPT THESE WARS, available at amazon.com. My WW1 novel, THE END OF INNOCENCE, was an Amazon.com best-seller in Military Fiction and, a top-5 Kindle book (as HARVARD 1914, its prior incarnation). www.allegrajordan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
February 8, 2013
Allegra Jordan sets the stage for Harvard 1914 in the dusk of America’s most innocent age. Steeped in Cambridge tradition and loyalty, Harvard and Radcliffe are the home of our heroes and heroine. As the story unfolds, the elegance of Bostonian aristocracy contrasts harshly with the brutal realities of WWI.
Helen and Wils are not remarkable characters; however the circumstance surrounding their relationship is unique.
Helen must manage as the only woman in an all-male writing course, while her mother has been arrested for campaigning in support of family limitation and other women’s rights causes. In the end, Helen is forced to face her heartache and champion her own heartfelt and emotionally charged cause.
As one of the few German students at Harvard, Wils is surrounded by American & British patriots who have close ties to the European allies. He faces unfounded accusations of being a spy, while reluctantly answering the call home to fight for The Kaiser.
After being mistreated as social and political outcasts, the two become close as they comfort each other. Their love transcends all obstacles set before them.
Allegra Jordan uses beautiful poetry, sentimental quotes and news headlines of the era to guide us through this simple, yet tragic love story. Harvard 1914 is a compelling and poignant piece of historical fiction.
Helen and Wils are not remarkable characters; however the circumstance surrounding their relationship is unique.
Helen must manage as the only woman in an all-male writing course, while her mother has been arrested for campaigning in support of family limitation and other women’s rights causes. In the end, Helen is forced to face her heartache and champion her own heartfelt and emotionally charged cause.
As one of the few German students at Harvard, Wils is surrounded by American & British patriots who have close ties to the European allies. He faces unfounded accusations of being a spy, while reluctantly answering the call home to fight for The Kaiser.
After being mistreated as social and political outcasts, the two become close as they comfort each other. Their love transcends all obstacles set before them.
Allegra Jordan uses beautiful poetry, sentimental quotes and news headlines of the era to guide us through this simple, yet tragic love story. Harvard 1914 is a compelling and poignant piece of historical fiction.
July 30, 2014
4.5 stars. What a fantastic WWI historical fiction novel. Thanks so much to NetGally and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing for the Advanced Review copy of this book. THE END OF INNOCENCE is a thought-provoking and emotional memorial to the Great War that affected so many lives. Read my full review at: http://thebookbindersdaughter.com/201...
October 6, 2014
How often can we say that read a great book today? One that made us think and feel, that made us a better person -- perhaps more tolerant, more forgiving -- for having read it? The End of Innocence is such a saga, a powerful story that opens on the eve of World War I at Harvard University in 1914.
The writing flows like fine aged wine, passages conjure a tumultuous past, and the story maintains taut tension. At the heart of the book is a love story, however, deep questions about reconciliation among people and nations are also addressed, lifting this novel into thought-provoking realms.
The End of Innocence blooms with the promise of first love between Helen and Wils, who are students at Radcliffe College and Harvard University, respectively. Warring political factions soon demand the return and sacrifice of young lives on frozen battle fields.
Author Allegra Jordan -- a graduate of Harvard Business School -- breathes life into Harvard Yard of a hundred years ago. The disparities between women and men, as well as shifting political climes, are expertly rendered in an era-appropriate manner.
Then, as now, families, friends, and couples are torn asunder when nations declare war. In today's world of increased communication and travel, never has this been more true.
Jordan's inspiration occurred during a visit to Harvard's Memorial Church, when she saw an odd little Latin plaque honoring German students of Harvard who fought in World War I under the Kaiser. This was a controversial honor, even though these students fought before the United States entered the war.
Jordan's comments at the end of the book are particularly insightful; be sure not to miss these.
The End of Innocence is a historical masterpiece of love, honor, and reconciliation during World War I, and an expertly crafted Ivy League novel. Five stars for superb literary storytelling.
The writing flows like fine aged wine, passages conjure a tumultuous past, and the story maintains taut tension. At the heart of the book is a love story, however, deep questions about reconciliation among people and nations are also addressed, lifting this novel into thought-provoking realms.
The End of Innocence blooms with the promise of first love between Helen and Wils, who are students at Radcliffe College and Harvard University, respectively. Warring political factions soon demand the return and sacrifice of young lives on frozen battle fields.
Author Allegra Jordan -- a graduate of Harvard Business School -- breathes life into Harvard Yard of a hundred years ago. The disparities between women and men, as well as shifting political climes, are expertly rendered in an era-appropriate manner.
Then, as now, families, friends, and couples are torn asunder when nations declare war. In today's world of increased communication and travel, never has this been more true.
Jordan's inspiration occurred during a visit to Harvard's Memorial Church, when she saw an odd little Latin plaque honoring German students of Harvard who fought in World War I under the Kaiser. This was a controversial honor, even though these students fought before the United States entered the war.
Jordan's comments at the end of the book are particularly insightful; be sure not to miss these.
The End of Innocence is a historical masterpiece of love, honor, and reconciliation during World War I, and an expertly crafted Ivy League novel. Five stars for superb literary storytelling.
April 9, 2017
As soon I as finished reading this book I went to Twitter and began tweeting @AllegraJordan1. Why? Because I finished this book on the train during my commute home and I was crying on the train! Seriously. I was sitting there with my bottom lip quivering and the tears in my eyes and cursing her for writing such a beautiful book.
To say I loved The End of Innocence is an understatement. This book was gorgeous, poetic, and romantic despite revolving around WWI which I was afraid was going to make this entirely depressing. I read a lot of war fiction and I'm not opposed to a heavy war-focus but this book was billed as a romance through a time of war so I didn't want the war to overshadow the story (and it didn't).
Jordan drew me in to her characters from the very beginning chapters. I'm not going to lie, when I first picked it up I wanted to love the book but I was apprehensive. I'm not sure what it was but there was something inside saying, "I don't know if this is really the book for you but give it a chance." I'm so glad I did because by the 2nd or 3rd chapter I was 100% invested in not only the characters but the story. This is one of those books I was so invested in that I was constantly searching for a way to steal a few moments here or there where I could read just a few more pages.
I'll say this about the book - it's big on romance, heartache and forgiveness. Be prepared for Jordan to tug on your heartstrings because it's a very emotional ride.
To say I loved The End of Innocence is an understatement. This book was gorgeous, poetic, and romantic despite revolving around WWI which I was afraid was going to make this entirely depressing. I read a lot of war fiction and I'm not opposed to a heavy war-focus but this book was billed as a romance through a time of war so I didn't want the war to overshadow the story (and it didn't).
Jordan drew me in to her characters from the very beginning chapters. I'm not going to lie, when I first picked it up I wanted to love the book but I was apprehensive. I'm not sure what it was but there was something inside saying, "I don't know if this is really the book for you but give it a chance." I'm so glad I did because by the 2nd or 3rd chapter I was 100% invested in not only the characters but the story. This is one of those books I was so invested in that I was constantly searching for a way to steal a few moments here or there where I could read just a few more pages.
I'll say this about the book - it's big on romance, heartache and forgiveness. Be prepared for Jordan to tug on your heartstrings because it's a very emotional ride.
May 16, 2014
Startling and powerful, this novel examines opposing forces during and after the first World War, with conflicts that are deeply personal as well as political. Harvard sets the stage for Helen, the Americn daughter of a conservative scholar and an activist mother, to meet Wils and Riley, German poets and cousins, whose German and British ancestries land them on opposing sides in the European trenches. Campus politics echo the intense jingoism and violence of the time as the war intensifies overseas, with students acting on these deep prejudices and going to fight even before the United States is officially in the war.
Helen and Wils are soulmates in poetry and temperament, but poetry can not keep the war from ripping their lives apart. Each character, major or minor, fights a war against modernism, or prejudice, or the status of women. Each conflict has consequences that are defined and defied during the war, and after.
I was shocked by an afterword: the author was inspired to write the book by a very real plaque in Harvard's Memorial Church, one that exemplifies the incoherence of society's response to war heroes, alive or dead.
Highly, highly recommended.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. This is a fair review.
Helen and Wils are soulmates in poetry and temperament, but poetry can not keep the war from ripping their lives apart. Each character, major or minor, fights a war against modernism, or prejudice, or the status of women. Each conflict has consequences that are defined and defied during the war, and after.
I was shocked by an afterword: the author was inspired to write the book by a very real plaque in Harvard's Memorial Church, one that exemplifies the incoherence of society's response to war heroes, alive or dead.
Highly, highly recommended.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. This is a fair review.
January 23, 2013
I usually prefer non-fiction to fiction and am not one who normally seeks a "romance novel." I simply read this book because the author is someone with whom I went to high school. Allegra Jordan was/is absolutely brilliant, so I thought I'd give her book a try. I am so glad I did! This is an extremely well written novel, rich in historical information with a story line that will keep you turning the pages (or, in my case, pushing the “next” button on the Kindle). “Harvard 1914” presents well developed characters. The story involves those who attended or were in some way associated with Harvard during WWI. The war affects their relationships and loyalties toward each other. And, if you like me are not usually attracted to romance stories, perhaps scenes on the racetrack or in the trenches will grab your attention. I really believe this book could end up being a classic.
September 21, 2014
To be honest, I didn't get very far into this, because it reads like a bad screenplay and not a novel. The characters are walking cliches and the dialogue is right out of a 1980s BBC/ABC coproduction.. "Stop right there. I'll not hear it about Wils. He is ten times the man his cousin Riley is - who you were quite keen on dancing with."
My favorite part is the author bio. "She curates the number-two Google-ranked reconciliation poetry website." Neat!
My favorite part is the author bio. "She curates the number-two Google-ranked reconciliation poetry website." Neat!
August 25, 2014
The End of Innocence by Allegra Jordan is the heart-wrenching story of Wils Brandl and Helen Brooks, two star-crossed students of Harvard during the beginnings of WWI. This story tore at my heart unlike anything I've read before. Wils, in his last year at Harvard, is a German student and is summoned home by his mother to fight for the kaiser. Unwilling and hoping the war will pass, he stays, but only to see his childhood friend die and German racism and hatred on the rise with his fellow classmates. Helen is seventeen and starting college for the first time. Bright-eyed and following only what she knows, she instantly dislikes the bitter Wils when they first meet at a dance. Forced together during an advanced course, Helen and Wils begin an unlikely friendship that eventually leads to much more.
I instantly fell in love with Wils. He is a bright, young man with his whole future ahead of him. The bitterness he feels at the beginning of the story doesn't last and he becomes this selfless character that puts others before himself. He's caring and kind, a true gentleman. Then there's Helen. At first, I really disliked her (and that's putting it mildly). She's from the upper-class, in other words very rich and it shows. She's spoiled, selfish, and blames her mother (who is like the black sheep of the family) for all her social problems. Then Helen meets Wils, who drunk and mourning his friend, puts her in her place. I totally cheered for Wils on this account. Yes he was a bit callous, but Helen was just so unlikeable at that point. Reading the progression of the characters, you get a feel for how much Helen matures and I really loved this!
Though Helen and Wils are the main characters, there are some great secondary characters. Riley is Wils's cousin and the smooth talker. He brings levity to the otherwise seriousness of the novel and also a great competitor for Helen's affections. Dr. Copeland is the professor of the class that Wils and Helen share, and he reminds me a lot of my own literature professor! Very dry personality, but truly cares for his students.
Overall, I felt this novel was by far one of the best I've read this year. And hands down, the best historical fiction I've ever read! The author drew me in with her characters, their emotions and relationships, and I just couldn't set it down. If you enjoy historical fiction, romance, or just a really good book I highly recommend you check this one out. You will not be disappointed!
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.
I instantly fell in love with Wils. He is a bright, young man with his whole future ahead of him. The bitterness he feels at the beginning of the story doesn't last and he becomes this selfless character that puts others before himself. He's caring and kind, a true gentleman. Then there's Helen. At first, I really disliked her (and that's putting it mildly). She's from the upper-class, in other words very rich and it shows. She's spoiled, selfish, and blames her mother (who is like the black sheep of the family) for all her social problems. Then Helen meets Wils, who drunk and mourning his friend, puts her in her place. I totally cheered for Wils on this account. Yes he was a bit callous, but Helen was just so unlikeable at that point. Reading the progression of the characters, you get a feel for how much Helen matures and I really loved this!
Though Helen and Wils are the main characters, there are some great secondary characters. Riley is Wils's cousin and the smooth talker. He brings levity to the otherwise seriousness of the novel and also a great competitor for Helen's affections. Dr. Copeland is the professor of the class that Wils and Helen share, and he reminds me a lot of my own literature professor! Very dry personality, but truly cares for his students.
All gone, he thought. Builders, farmers, teachers, students. Is this how we end? Jumbled parts in a mass grave, swept under a clean white carpet?The plot deals with the war in Europe but also with the prejudice occurring at Harvard to its German students, and of course a bit of romance with the relationship between Helen and Wils. The war has just begun and the book takes you through the first Christmas and the events after the war. The author does a wonderful job of describing the horrible scenes of the war and one of the most popular references from WWI (the Christmas truce that began with the singing of Silent Night :cry: ). I have to admit that I sobbed during parts and laughed during others. Jordan really captures the essence of the time period.
Overall, I felt this novel was by far one of the best I've read this year. And hands down, the best historical fiction I've ever read! The author drew me in with her characters, their emotions and relationships, and I just couldn't set it down. If you enjoy historical fiction, romance, or just a really good book I highly recommend you check this one out. You will not be disappointed!
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2023
AKA "The End of Innocence". Gave this 3 stars but it's really a 3.5 star read for me. I think it was hard for me to not compare it to Fall of Giants which I had just read in December. Fall of Giants is such an epic historical fiction look at WW1. Harvard 1914 is a much more personal look at how war affects relationships. In fact the only reason I didn't give this 4 stars is because some of the editing seemed a little sloppy.
It starts out in Belgium, December 1914 and then goes back to August, 1914 to tell of the romance between a German student at Harvard, Wilhelm von Lutzow Brandl, and an American student from Radcliffe, Helen Windship Brooks. With the pressure of anti-German feelings in America (this is before America was fighting in WW1), Wils leaves Boston for Europe to join the German army. Eventually the author takes us forward to 1932 where we see the aftermath and emotional toll that the War has had on the families and their friends.
In my opinion, the author did a nice job of showing how young love can develop so quickly and yet this young couple can really do nothing to stop "the tide of war". Very sad in some parts especially in the descriptions of the horrors of war yet the ending is uplifting. The story is fictional but based somewhat on factual events, including the controversial decision to include the names of 4 deceased German soldiers who had been students at Harvard in Harvard's Memorial Church yet their names were not to be listed in Harvard's Memorial Hall.
There is an interesting afterword by the author where she explains that the novel began as a story about the building of Harvard's Memorial Church: "ultimately a story of abandonment and reconciliation."
It starts out in Belgium, December 1914 and then goes back to August, 1914 to tell of the romance between a German student at Harvard, Wilhelm von Lutzow Brandl, and an American student from Radcliffe, Helen Windship Brooks. With the pressure of anti-German feelings in America (this is before America was fighting in WW1), Wils leaves Boston for Europe to join the German army. Eventually the author takes us forward to 1932 where we see the aftermath and emotional toll that the War has had on the families and their friends.
In my opinion, the author did a nice job of showing how young love can develop so quickly and yet this young couple can really do nothing to stop "the tide of war". Very sad in some parts especially in the descriptions of the horrors of war yet the ending is uplifting. The story is fictional but based somewhat on factual events, including the controversial decision to include the names of 4 deceased German soldiers who had been students at Harvard in Harvard's Memorial Church yet their names were not to be listed in Harvard's Memorial Hall.
There is an interesting afterword by the author where she explains that the novel began as a story about the building of Harvard's Memorial Church: "ultimately a story of abandonment and reconciliation."
September 1, 2013
Allegra Jordan replaces Ayn Rand as my new favorite author. In Harvard 1914: A War Romance, Jordan places the reader on Harvard University’s campus as the world marches toward its first major war. The main character, Helen Brooks, is thrown into the middle of this conflict between the world’s aristocracy when she becomes romantically linked to cousins who would eventually fight on opposite sides of the war, Riley Spencer (an Englishman) and Wilhelm Brandl (a German).
Though Jordan’s main romance in the novel is between Helen and Wilhelm, she subtlety introduces a larger and more impactful notion of “universal love” through reconciliation. In the end, as Helen helps post-war Harvard find solace in memorizing all of its fallen scholars, she is able to release the societal tags of “good” and “bad” and appreciate the love between her leftist, often arrested, protest prone mother and her reticent father.
Jordan does an excellent job of giving the reader a clear pane-glass window through which to view 1914. She does not run away from obvious class and sex barriers that existed in the period. Instead she masterfully weaves them into the mounting tensions that eventually drive America to enter the war. Through Helen, Jordan seems to indicate that it is a great sin to romanticize love (past, present or future love) if one does not nourish that love with the joys of life.
Jordan’s characters are multi-dimensional, complex and reflect the sensitivity of a person who grew up in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement in the town, Selma, Alabama, that continues to be the social conscience of the country.
Though Jordan’s main romance in the novel is between Helen and Wilhelm, she subtlety introduces a larger and more impactful notion of “universal love” through reconciliation. In the end, as Helen helps post-war Harvard find solace in memorizing all of its fallen scholars, she is able to release the societal tags of “good” and “bad” and appreciate the love between her leftist, often arrested, protest prone mother and her reticent father.
Jordan does an excellent job of giving the reader a clear pane-glass window through which to view 1914. She does not run away from obvious class and sex barriers that existed in the period. Instead she masterfully weaves them into the mounting tensions that eventually drive America to enter the war. Through Helen, Jordan seems to indicate that it is a great sin to romanticize love (past, present or future love) if one does not nourish that love with the joys of life.
Jordan’s characters are multi-dimensional, complex and reflect the sensitivity of a person who grew up in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement in the town, Selma, Alabama, that continues to be the social conscience of the country.
June 20, 2014
Again, I was lucky to get a sneak peak at this great work. Allegra Jordan's novel tells the story of two Harvard students who fall in love on the eve of WWI. The twist? Helen is from Boston and her love, Wils, is from Germany. It's a story of love and loyalty for a couple on two different sides of war. Beautifully written, I would recommend this to readers who love romance or war - it appeals to both.
April 1, 2015
I was supposed to win this book through FirstReads but never received it. I am writing this review and giving some sort of rating because I think GoodReads' algorithm is not going to let me win another FirstReads until I post some kind of review on this one. I will post a real review of this if I ever get to read it. And I hope I do because the other reviews here sound like this book is wonderful and exactly what I would like.
February 10, 2013
This is GREAT!! Really enjoying it thus far & think my GoodReads friends will also. Historical fiction set in my favorite era with wonderful writing. The author uses beautiful, strong verbs. And she has connections to Bham. Put this on your list of novels to read.
September 23, 2015
Ugh!! :/
August 20, 2019
I received this book from a Goodreads drawing in exchange for an honest review. Historical fiction is not a favorite genre for me but this was better than most. It is based on an actual event/situation at Harvard University after World War One. The beginning is very slow but keep going – it gets better. Students at Harvard University are drawn into the war – a German mother demanding that her son return from Harvard to fight for the German side, many American students going to Europe to fight for the English, French or country of their heritage. But before the war, various romantic relationships happened. Even a pregnancy. The book is completely researched and lovers of historical fiction will love this one.
June 22, 2024
One of the books in my backlog of ebooks I’ve been meaning to read. Started out slow and didn’t get really interesting until about page 80. I did like the characters and the love story but parts of this book were slow and hard to get through.
February 16, 2022
I really appreciated the research the author put into this novel. The story felt so much more realistic than many historical fictions I’ve read lately.
October 5, 2014
The End Of Innocence
By
Allegra Jordan
What it's all about...
Students at Harvard, spies, soldiers, Boston wealthy families, Germans...this book has a mix of everything. And...it's all very serious...very serious stuff. What is always fascinating about this era is that women didn't have any rights at all. Men were always leaving to go to war. Love often didn't conquer everything. Helen likes Riley first but realizes that it is a huge mistake and falls deeply in love with Wils. Unfortunately Wils's home is in Prussia and he forever feels guilty and feels the need to go home...but this doesn't stop their budding romance at Harvard and Radcliffe.
Where it all takes place...
Boston, Harvard, boat rides on the Charles River, Belgium...these are the key areas.
When much of it happens...
Most of this book takes place in early 1913...just at the beginning of WWI...then during the war...and then a bit after the war.
Which characters had the most impact on me...
Max...poor unfortunate Max...but I won't share what happened to him. Also Helen's crusading mother...was also a key character for me. Helen and Wils didn't seem that special but they were the book's key characters. They were the young lovers. I also came to appreciate Helen's father...I loved when he said something like this...we have the house in New Hampshire to get away from unreasonable people...he was referring to his calamitous wife!
Why I wanted to read it...
I wanted to read this book because I thought it would be about old families, young love, maybe even misguided love...and it was but I totally did not realize how much the war factored into everyone's lives. I know this book was described as historical but I didn't realize it was that historical...sigh! And...I don't mean to make light of this time in our history. My real problem...and I am sure it's just me...is that I failed to connect with any character and thus I had no true connection to the book.
However...what made me truly appreciate this book...
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to but I did learn from it. I had no idea that spies were actually here in this country and especially at Harvard...and it didn't seem that it was that difficult to become a spy and people were eager to accuse people of being a spy. This is something that I had never really thought about. My husband is a sort of history lover and we had a lively discussion about this book and the events that took place in Belgium near the start of this war. The writer is knowledgeable. The writer writes powerfully. I have only great admiration for those writers who can blend history into a book of fiction. Oh...there were random scattered poems on these pages because of the writing class that Helen was taking. Helen was the only female student in this writing class at Harvard.
For me? This book started to get really good at around page 162...loved the banter of Helen's father...and Wils comes to visit...a surprise visit...before he leaves Harvard and Helen...perhaps forever?
Why you should read it, too...
If you love historical fiction...this is probably a book that you should not miss. Powerful writing...an interesting story...lots of history.
By
Allegra Jordan
What it's all about...
Students at Harvard, spies, soldiers, Boston wealthy families, Germans...this book has a mix of everything. And...it's all very serious...very serious stuff. What is always fascinating about this era is that women didn't have any rights at all. Men were always leaving to go to war. Love often didn't conquer everything. Helen likes Riley first but realizes that it is a huge mistake and falls deeply in love with Wils. Unfortunately Wils's home is in Prussia and he forever feels guilty and feels the need to go home...but this doesn't stop their budding romance at Harvard and Radcliffe.
Where it all takes place...
Boston, Harvard, boat rides on the Charles River, Belgium...these are the key areas.
When much of it happens...
Most of this book takes place in early 1913...just at the beginning of WWI...then during the war...and then a bit after the war.
Which characters had the most impact on me...
Max...poor unfortunate Max...but I won't share what happened to him. Also Helen's crusading mother...was also a key character for me. Helen and Wils didn't seem that special but they were the book's key characters. They were the young lovers. I also came to appreciate Helen's father...I loved when he said something like this...we have the house in New Hampshire to get away from unreasonable people...he was referring to his calamitous wife!
Why I wanted to read it...
I wanted to read this book because I thought it would be about old families, young love, maybe even misguided love...and it was but I totally did not realize how much the war factored into everyone's lives. I know this book was described as historical but I didn't realize it was that historical...sigh! And...I don't mean to make light of this time in our history. My real problem...and I am sure it's just me...is that I failed to connect with any character and thus I had no true connection to the book.
However...what made me truly appreciate this book...
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to but I did learn from it. I had no idea that spies were actually here in this country and especially at Harvard...and it didn't seem that it was that difficult to become a spy and people were eager to accuse people of being a spy. This is something that I had never really thought about. My husband is a sort of history lover and we had a lively discussion about this book and the events that took place in Belgium near the start of this war. The writer is knowledgeable. The writer writes powerfully. I have only great admiration for those writers who can blend history into a book of fiction. Oh...there were random scattered poems on these pages because of the writing class that Helen was taking. Helen was the only female student in this writing class at Harvard.
For me? This book started to get really good at around page 162...loved the banter of Helen's father...and Wils comes to visit...a surprise visit...before he leaves Harvard and Helen...perhaps forever?
Why you should read it, too...
If you love historical fiction...this is probably a book that you should not miss. Powerful writing...an interesting story...lots of history.
September 9, 2014
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this one. I was drawn to this title because of the young lady attending Harvard (Radcliffe, actually) during WWI. Technically she can't attend Harvard--they didn't allow women--but she is permitted--invited--to attend one class on the exclusively male campus and there, she mingles with poets, playboys, and Germans, who during this time, were not quite welcome in the States anymore.
The campus is rife with hatred and students wishing to find someone to blame for the deaths of their loved ones overseas. This results in riots and beatings and needless to say, students of German origins are not safe. I found the story education in this aspect. Though I knew Germans faced hostility during this time period, their treatment on college campuses never really crossed my mind. I can't say it surprises me though. There's more than riots and rough "play" here too. There's "white collar" hatred going on as well, such as "I'll donate money to your college, but the German professor has to go..."
And witnessing all this is Helen, a young woman fresh in college, a smart lady who edits her father's books, is embarrassed by her mother's birth control pamphlets, and is falling in love for the first time after getting her head turned by a wrong fellow or two first. Though I wouldn't call her a suffragist as she doesn't seem to have strong feelings on the the subject, she isn't a doormat either. I'd say she's still finding herself as one moment she's racing a car and the next she is unable to make a man step off the hem of her skirt. But this is a confusing age to be and her characterization made sense.
I'd also just like to take a random moment here to say this is very well written. I loved the sudden surprise bursts of sarcastic humor that appeared here and there, making me chuckle and I also enjoyed how very poetic the prose is.
All that was beautiful was going. Like a garden that withdraws into the ground before a very long winter.
But I have some quibbles:
Wils seemed confused much of the time. One min he says Arnold isn't a murderer, the next he is. One minute the kaiser is ruining his life, the next he's saying he must fight for his country and won't denounce it... He seemed confused and thus confused me. But yet, at the same time, perhaps this is how it's supposed to feel. I would be confused too! Also, when in the world did a wedding occur? How did I miss that? (I read a digital galley and it's possible a scene was missing.) And later in the story why does Helen act like her and Copeland had only met in Wil's room? He was her professor too. So many little weird things.
I thought Helen's mother's "misdeeds" were quite fascinating. I wish she'd actually been a part of the story, that we'd experienced her presence.
Full review: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
The campus is rife with hatred and students wishing to find someone to blame for the deaths of their loved ones overseas. This results in riots and beatings and needless to say, students of German origins are not safe. I found the story education in this aspect. Though I knew Germans faced hostility during this time period, their treatment on college campuses never really crossed my mind. I can't say it surprises me though. There's more than riots and rough "play" here too. There's "white collar" hatred going on as well, such as "I'll donate money to your college, but the German professor has to go..."
And witnessing all this is Helen, a young woman fresh in college, a smart lady who edits her father's books, is embarrassed by her mother's birth control pamphlets, and is falling in love for the first time after getting her head turned by a wrong fellow or two first. Though I wouldn't call her a suffragist as she doesn't seem to have strong feelings on the the subject, she isn't a doormat either. I'd say she's still finding herself as one moment she's racing a car and the next she is unable to make a man step off the hem of her skirt. But this is a confusing age to be and her characterization made sense.
I'd also just like to take a random moment here to say this is very well written. I loved the sudden surprise bursts of sarcastic humor that appeared here and there, making me chuckle and I also enjoyed how very poetic the prose is.
All that was beautiful was going. Like a garden that withdraws into the ground before a very long winter.
But I have some quibbles:
Wils seemed confused much of the time. One min he says Arnold isn't a murderer, the next he is. One minute the kaiser is ruining his life, the next he's saying he must fight for his country and won't denounce it... He seemed confused and thus confused me. But yet, at the same time, perhaps this is how it's supposed to feel. I would be confused too! Also, when in the world did a wedding occur? How did I miss that? (I read a digital galley and it's possible a scene was missing.) And later in the story why does Helen act like her and Copeland had only met in Wil's room? He was her professor too. So many little weird things.
I thought Helen's mother's "misdeeds" were quite fascinating. I wish she'd actually been a part of the story, that we'd experienced her presence.
Full review: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
August 29, 2014
Allegra Jordan's The End of Innocence is a beautifully written story set at the beginning of World War I. Harvard University's campus takes center stage in this heart-breaking tale of love, loss, and new beginnings. I really don't know anything about Harvard's history or campus but this story made me want to learn more. The descriptions of the campus and the buildings were wonderful and I enjoyed learning about the building of the memorial chapel and the two memorials in it. I liked how the author took one of the main characters and made her the main proponent of the need for a memorial to the German students.
The story centers around Helen, Wils and his cousin, Riley. Wils is German and Riley is English which creates an interesting dichotomy. The war has just broken out, tempers are heated on the Harvard University campus and Wils was German when it was the least coolest thing to be. Wils was my favorite part of the story. I loved his personality, his poetry and just his voice in general. He dealt with all of the negativity on campus with such grace. Riley was an interesting character in that he seemed really superficial at first but as the story progressed, he grew into a really admirable character. Both cousins loved each other and didn't really have strong feelings about the war but were forced to fight against each other. I've always struggled with a 'side' when it comes to World War I and this book cemented in my head the immense suffering that both sides had to deal with.
Following Helen throughout the story was kind of like riding a roller coaster. There were a lot of highs and lows but at the end of the day, she was an extremely tough, resilient and intelligent character. I can't imagine dealing with the pain she had to endure but I was glad to see her find herself as the story progressed. The only thing that I didn't love about the story is that it felt really rushed at the end. I loved the way it ended but it still seemed to go from one story line to the next really quickly.
I'm really interested in the World War I era but I haven't read much about what was going on in the United States during the early years of the war so this story opened up a whole new world for me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fascinating and well-written story. 4 stars.
The story centers around Helen, Wils and his cousin, Riley. Wils is German and Riley is English which creates an interesting dichotomy. The war has just broken out, tempers are heated on the Harvard University campus and Wils was German when it was the least coolest thing to be. Wils was my favorite part of the story. I loved his personality, his poetry and just his voice in general. He dealt with all of the negativity on campus with such grace. Riley was an interesting character in that he seemed really superficial at first but as the story progressed, he grew into a really admirable character. Both cousins loved each other and didn't really have strong feelings about the war but were forced to fight against each other. I've always struggled with a 'side' when it comes to World War I and this book cemented in my head the immense suffering that both sides had to deal with.
Following Helen throughout the story was kind of like riding a roller coaster. There were a lot of highs and lows but at the end of the day, she was an extremely tough, resilient and intelligent character. I can't imagine dealing with the pain she had to endure but I was glad to see her find herself as the story progressed. The only thing that I didn't love about the story is that it felt really rushed at the end. I loved the way it ended but it still seemed to go from one story line to the next really quickly.
I'm really interested in the World War I era but I haven't read much about what was going on in the United States during the early years of the war so this story opened up a whole new world for me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fascinating and well-written story. 4 stars.
February 28, 2015
It is official: this is my first literary hangover of the year. *sobs*
WWI & WWII are very sensible subjects for me: I’ve been researching about those conflicts for such a long time and I really like to try my hand into a fiction/romance novel sometimes. A couple of months ago I attended an exhibition about the lives of German immigrants in Brazil in late 1930s and early 1940s – they had endured such a hard time over here due to the prejudice but many of them survived through it all and succeed, so I’ve always wondered how it was for them to adjust into foreign lands before the two world wars, and ‘The End of Innocence’ really gave me a great insight on this matter.
Helen Brooks is an American girl, trying to adjust into the male-Harvard-universe of 1914, and in this male universe nobody can see her as the bright literature student who she really is – in their point of view she is just a rich and spoiled woman who decides to try out an university degree; Wilhelm von Lützow Brandl (aka Wils Brandl) is the only son of a Prussian countess, a brilliant student, a poet and, above all, a German living in America in the outbreak of World War I (or ‘The Great War’ as they called it).
As the war strikes, a wave of prejudice, racism and hate towards the Germans in foreign lands takes form and Wils is called up by his mother to return to Germany and fight in the name of the Kaiser. Wils and his cousin – Riley – will have to fight on opposite sides of the trenches and venture through the reality of war.
Wils and Helen’s relationship is very candid and simple - just as the title says, that was the ‘age of innocence’, and their romance is sort of like this: innocent and unbiased. One of the things that made me fall so hard for this novel was that the author – the brilliant Allegra Jordan – didn’t choose the ‘easy ending’, the one we were all rooting for, she decided for the tough road and she did it even sooner than I expected, which is something I always appreciate in an author. Her wrap up was definitely one of a kind. We may be in the second month of the year and my ‘Favorite List’ is getting stronger and longer, but for now, the first position has already been taken by ‘The End of Innocence’!
WWI & WWII are very sensible subjects for me: I’ve been researching about those conflicts for such a long time and I really like to try my hand into a fiction/romance novel sometimes. A couple of months ago I attended an exhibition about the lives of German immigrants in Brazil in late 1930s and early 1940s – they had endured such a hard time over here due to the prejudice but many of them survived through it all and succeed, so I’ve always wondered how it was for them to adjust into foreign lands before the two world wars, and ‘The End of Innocence’ really gave me a great insight on this matter.
Helen Brooks is an American girl, trying to adjust into the male-Harvard-universe of 1914, and in this male universe nobody can see her as the bright literature student who she really is – in their point of view she is just a rich and spoiled woman who decides to try out an university degree; Wilhelm von Lützow Brandl (aka Wils Brandl) is the only son of a Prussian countess, a brilliant student, a poet and, above all, a German living in America in the outbreak of World War I (or ‘The Great War’ as they called it).
As the war strikes, a wave of prejudice, racism and hate towards the Germans in foreign lands takes form and Wils is called up by his mother to return to Germany and fight in the name of the Kaiser. Wils and his cousin – Riley – will have to fight on opposite sides of the trenches and venture through the reality of war.
Wils and Helen’s relationship is very candid and simple - just as the title says, that was the ‘age of innocence’, and their romance is sort of like this: innocent and unbiased. One of the things that made me fall so hard for this novel was that the author – the brilliant Allegra Jordan – didn’t choose the ‘easy ending’, the one we were all rooting for, she decided for the tough road and she did it even sooner than I expected, which is something I always appreciate in an author. Her wrap up was definitely one of a kind. We may be in the second month of the year and my ‘Favorite List’ is getting stronger and longer, but for now, the first position has already been taken by ‘The End of Innocence’!
May 22, 2015
Helen Brooks is young woman in 1914 New England that is having troubles at home. Her mother is a suffragist that is getting arrested for distributing family planning materials and seems to care more about her causes than her daughter Helen. Her mother’s activities have caused her to lose the man that she thought would ask for her hand in marriage.
At this low point, Helen meets the dashing British playboy, Riley Spencer, and his German cousin Wils Brandl. Both are rowing teammates of her brother Peter. Helen is charmed by them both, but finds herself falling love with German poet Wils as they both attend a class at Harvard with the renowned Professor Copeland and have a shared love of poetry. World War I tears their class and world apart. Helen discovers that she has a hidden strength within her through the course of the novel.
I really enjoyed this novel. Helen is a very interesting character and I liked her metamorphosis through the novel. The WWI scenes were a tear-jerking narrative of the traumas of war. Wils Brandl was also a fascinating character – a poet who loves America and his British cousin, but who must fight for his country and Kaiser
I also thought it was intriguing that the novel is based on a plaque at the Memorial Chapel at Harvard commemorating students that died fighting for Germany in WWI. The afterward and questions with the author at the end of the novel also gave more insight into this and author Allegra Jordan’s fascination with this plaque and history that inspired the novel. I will have a wonderful guest blog with author Allegra Jordan posted next week. There were also book club questions at the end of the book as well, The End of Innocence would make a great book club selection.
Overall, The End of Innocence is an excellent historical fiction novel set in WWI with a unique premise and intriguing characters. I highly recommend it!
Book Source: Review Copy from Sourcebooks – Thanks!
This review was originally published on my blog at: http://www.lauragerold.blogspot.com/2...
At this low point, Helen meets the dashing British playboy, Riley Spencer, and his German cousin Wils Brandl. Both are rowing teammates of her brother Peter. Helen is charmed by them both, but finds herself falling love with German poet Wils as they both attend a class at Harvard with the renowned Professor Copeland and have a shared love of poetry. World War I tears their class and world apart. Helen discovers that she has a hidden strength within her through the course of the novel.
I really enjoyed this novel. Helen is a very interesting character and I liked her metamorphosis through the novel. The WWI scenes were a tear-jerking narrative of the traumas of war. Wils Brandl was also a fascinating character – a poet who loves America and his British cousin, but who must fight for his country and Kaiser
I also thought it was intriguing that the novel is based on a plaque at the Memorial Chapel at Harvard commemorating students that died fighting for Germany in WWI. The afterward and questions with the author at the end of the novel also gave more insight into this and author Allegra Jordan’s fascination with this plaque and history that inspired the novel. I will have a wonderful guest blog with author Allegra Jordan posted next week. There were also book club questions at the end of the book as well, The End of Innocence would make a great book club selection.
Overall, The End of Innocence is an excellent historical fiction novel set in WWI with a unique premise and intriguing characters. I highly recommend it!
Book Source: Review Copy from Sourcebooks – Thanks!
This review was originally published on my blog at: http://www.lauragerold.blogspot.com/2...
August 30, 2014
Allegra Jordan replaces Ayn Rand as my favorite author. In Harvard 1914: A War Romance, Jordan places the reader on Harvard University's campus as the world marches toward its first major war. The main character, Helen Brooks, is thrown into the middle of this conflict between the world's aristocracy when she becomes romantically linked to cousins who would eventually fight on opposite sides of the war, Riley Spencer (an Englishman) and Wilhelm Brandl (a German).
Though Jordan's main romance in the novel is between Helen and Wilhelm, she subtlety introduces a larger and more impactful notion of "universal love" through reconciliation. In the end, as Helen helps post-war Harvard find solace in memorizing all of its fallen scholars, she is able to release the societal tags of "good" and "bad" and appreciate the love between her leftist, often arrested, protest prone mother and her reticent father.
Jordan does an excellent job of giving the reader a clear pane-glass window through which to view 1914. She does not run away from obvious class and sex barriers that existed in the period. Instead she masterfully weaves them into the mounting tensions that eventually drive America to enter the war. Through Helen, Jordan seems to indicate that it is a great sin to romanticize love (past, present or future love) if one does not nourish that love with the joys of life.
Jordan's characters are multi-dimensional, complex and reflect the sensitivity of a person who grew up in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement in the town, Selma, Alabama, that continues to be the social conscience of the country.
Though Jordan's main romance in the novel is between Helen and Wilhelm, she subtlety introduces a larger and more impactful notion of "universal love" through reconciliation. In the end, as Helen helps post-war Harvard find solace in memorizing all of its fallen scholars, she is able to release the societal tags of "good" and "bad" and appreciate the love between her leftist, often arrested, protest prone mother and her reticent father.
Jordan does an excellent job of giving the reader a clear pane-glass window through which to view 1914. She does not run away from obvious class and sex barriers that existed in the period. Instead she masterfully weaves them into the mounting tensions that eventually drive America to enter the war. Through Helen, Jordan seems to indicate that it is a great sin to romanticize love (past, present or future love) if one does not nourish that love with the joys of life.
Jordan's characters are multi-dimensional, complex and reflect the sensitivity of a person who grew up in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement in the town, Selma, Alabama, that continues to be the social conscience of the country.
June 22, 2015
Helen and Wils meet at Harvard. They fall in love. But this is not going to be smooth sailing. They are on opposite sides of a great divide. Wils is German and his mother is pressurizing him to return. Anti German sentiments in America are now high and the few Germans who are around know that they are under suspicion of being spies.
The story of Helen and Wils and other characters which form the story are all highly individualistic people. Each one carries within them a little story, which forms the whole so we have Ryan a cousin of Wils, Copeland the Professor an integral part of the story and Helen's parents who have formed her and guided her amongst many other characters.
The story moves from America to Belgium to Germany and back to America again. We also move forward in time seventeen years later and it is bitter sweet. Memories of times past evocative of a time long gone and the futility of war and why we fight these wars. An entire era has passed before the reader's eyes - changes brought about by this Great War are far reaching - especially on the social level.
I am finding it difficult to review this book as there was so much to love. From the harsh biting reality of war in frozen Belgium, to the warmth and affection of comrades during the war, to the overwhelming love story of Wils and Helen and the story of Harvard overshadowing it all, this was a wonderful debut novel.
I was sad when I finished the book and only hope there will be more coming from this author.
The story of Helen and Wils and other characters which form the story are all highly individualistic people. Each one carries within them a little story, which forms the whole so we have Ryan a cousin of Wils, Copeland the Professor an integral part of the story and Helen's parents who have formed her and guided her amongst many other characters.
The story moves from America to Belgium to Germany and back to America again. We also move forward in time seventeen years later and it is bitter sweet. Memories of times past evocative of a time long gone and the futility of war and why we fight these wars. An entire era has passed before the reader's eyes - changes brought about by this Great War are far reaching - especially on the social level.
I am finding it difficult to review this book as there was so much to love. From the harsh biting reality of war in frozen Belgium, to the warmth and affection of comrades during the war, to the overwhelming love story of Wils and Helen and the story of Harvard overshadowing it all, this was a wonderful debut novel.
I was sad when I finished the book and only hope there will be more coming from this author.
June 7, 2017
I received a free copy of this book.
I still kind of have my troubles with books set in WWI but after two books dealing with this time I really start to reconsider this position. This book definitely was amazing.
The book is about two young people, Helen and Wils, who meet at Harvard University in 1914. He is of German descent and thus quite a lot of problems occur. Since the war in Europe has already started and news have reached America there is a anti-German atmosphere Wils has to deal with. Also, Helen is facing her own troubles when people are hostile towards her mother's political activities.
I loved the main characters right from the beginning. They were well-written and it was quite easy to understand their intentions. Also, their romance was just right for me. Not too rushed, not too forced. Easy to spot - I really liked the first part of the book.
The second part was a lot harder for me. Due to his topic and outcome I had my troubles getting into it but the third part made up for it. Needless to say, I love the ending of the book.
The topics of death and grieving were dominant in this book and I usually avoid them for personal reasons but this time there were really well-done. I also have the impression that I got a lot of new insights into the time and places.
This definitely is a great romantic historical fiction that I would read again and also recommend to friends.
I still kind of have my troubles with books set in WWI but after two books dealing with this time I really start to reconsider this position. This book definitely was amazing.
The book is about two young people, Helen and Wils, who meet at Harvard University in 1914. He is of German descent and thus quite a lot of problems occur. Since the war in Europe has already started and news have reached America there is a anti-German atmosphere Wils has to deal with. Also, Helen is facing her own troubles when people are hostile towards her mother's political activities.
I loved the main characters right from the beginning. They were well-written and it was quite easy to understand their intentions. Also, their romance was just right for me. Not too rushed, not too forced. Easy to spot - I really liked the first part of the book.
The second part was a lot harder for me. Due to his topic and outcome I had my troubles getting into it but the third part made up for it. Needless to say, I love the ending of the book.
The topics of death and grieving were dominant in this book and I usually avoid them for personal reasons but this time there were really well-done. I also have the impression that I got a lot of new insights into the time and places.
This definitely is a great romantic historical fiction that I would read again and also recommend to friends.
September 16, 2014
This is a wonderful novel set at Harvard University as WWI is breaking out. The story is one of young men being pulled into the war by their respective countries. I loved the historical detail and how the world of young men being sent to war was set against Helen's mother's campaigning for birth control and women's rights. It is interesting that I have read a lot of books about the Japanese internment during WWII on the west coast - Farewell to Manzanar, The Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, etc. I had never read anything about the treatment of those of German descent during WWI. I couldn't put it down - luckily it was a rainy Sunday. Being a native Bostonian, I really enjoyed the descriptions of my city -it felt so real . The end was heartbreaking, but I had an inkling that it would not be happy ending. I was moved to tears - three times . Just when I thought I had shed my last tear there is the reading of Wils' poem by Professor Copeland -it just broke my heart. I hope to see the plaque to the Harvard students who fought on the side of Germany on my next visit to Boston. With the 100th anniversary of WWI, this book should do very well. I will be recommending it to everyone. I hope to share it with my library book club as a selection next fall.
November 22, 2014
In this first novel by Allegra Jordan, the love story between two students at Harvard-Radcliffe University in prewar 1914 is brought to life. Helen Windship Brooks, daughter of a prestigious Boston family, meets British playboy, Riley Spencer, and his brooding German poet-cousin, Wils Brandl. As Wils helps Helen navigate Harvard, they fall in love against a backdrop of foreign tensions bringing the country to the brink of World War I. Wils finds his future in America in danger and, eventually, the cousins are called to fight on opposing sides of the same war.
Based on a true story behind a controversial World War I memorial at the world-famous university, The End of Innocence takes readers from the elegance of Harvard to the ravaged battlefields of Belgium. Helen is the protagonist who braves to infiltrate the hallowed halls of male dominance and proves that love can overcome fear and despair in a perfect example of historical fiction.
Based on a true story behind a controversial World War I memorial at the world-famous university, The End of Innocence takes readers from the elegance of Harvard to the ravaged battlefields of Belgium. Helen is the protagonist who braves to infiltrate the hallowed halls of male dominance and proves that love can overcome fear and despair in a perfect example of historical fiction.
January 10, 2013
It's been more than a decade since I've read such a thoughtfully written, beautifully crafted, expertly researched novel. Allegra Jordan has created a truly profound love story between such vivid and sympathetic characters set between the war in Europe and Harvard University. The details of these characters are so deliberate, and so colorful, that it was very difficult to let them go when I reached the last page! Not only did I lose myself in the story, but I learned so many intricacies about the war and how having students from different sides impacted Harvard and the passionate students within the prestigious campus walls. I'm eagerly awaiting a sequel .... Thank you, Allegra Jordan, for a new classic to display on my bookshelf.
April 24, 2014
Set mostly in Harvard and the trenches of WWI during the early part of the war, Harvard 1914 is a beautiful and expertly written historical fiction novel that contains a touching lovestory, but is so much more than "just" a romance. Including themes of tolerance and forgiveness as well as the horrors of war, the story is touching without ever being cheesy and heartbreaking as well as hopeful. A wonderful read all around!
May 7, 2015
I Absolutely LOVE this book! Can't wait to talk to Allegra Jordan about her amazing book at book club later this month!!!!
A terrific historical fiction novel set during WW1 and Harvard university.
The book weaves together a wonderful story, history and poetry.
I could not put it down, I loved this book.
I know I have read a great book when it stays with you, long after putting the book down.
A terrific historical fiction novel set during WW1 and Harvard university.
The book weaves together a wonderful story, history and poetry.
I could not put it down, I loved this book.
I know I have read a great book when it stays with you, long after putting the book down.
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