We Were The Rats

by Lawson Glassop

A novel recounting the lives of some of the troops who ended up caught in Tobruk, surrounded by the German army for some 242 days, from the time before they enlisted through to the eventual departure of the ones who survived. This is not a book on military history at all, but rather a story about soldiers' lives.

Genres: World War II

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

Reviews

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most astonishing novels to come out of the Second World War. However, the reader should be warned beforehand of some of the book's limitations (which are also very much its strengths). Firstly, the initial chapters (over 100 pages) will seem to have nothing whatever to do with the war. They concern the dilettantish lifestyle of the main protagonist and their value can only be seen later, in retrospect. In fact, this section is as well written and intrinsically interesting as the rest, but may be too much of a surprise for some. Secondly, the text, although written by a cultured, well-educated man, quickly moves into the vernacular of the day, something which provides extra colour and depth, but which will at times be quite incomprehensible to some readers, especially non-Australians. Thirdly, it must be recalled that this book was in fact banned in Australia for some years following its publication and the publisher accused of obscenity. The version I read, in the Australian War Classics series, was still censored even as late as 1991, although for an Australian or Brit, it is easy enough to fill in the many gaps! Obviously, this may also turn some people off (especially in an unexpurgated edition), but it equally obviously portrays the characters in a much truer light.

It is really one of the finest war novels I have read, and I should note that it is, like many of the others written by veterans, and in spite of the fact that much is made of soldierly camaraderie and so on, an anti-war novel at heart. For those who have been in the firing line do not rejoice of the experience, quite the contrary.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel about Australian soldiers at the siege of Tobruk in 1941. I picked it up in a used bookstore in Australia, and was disappointed....

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read during High School)