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Passchendaele
Sergeant Michael Dunne of the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion has survived some of the worst fighting of the Great War. Wounded on the Western Front, he returns home to Calgary, a broken man suffering from neurasthenia and facing trial as a deserter should he ever attempt a return to the battlefield.
In Calgary, he finds a complicated love with Sarah Mann, a nurse dismissed from her position because of her German ancestry. Sarah is struggling to care for her chronically ill younger brother, David, and is devastated when he finds someone to lie on his medical certificate so that he can enlist in the war. Though Michael is haunted by his memories of the battlefield, out of duty and love he follows David to the Front. Neither of the two men knows what lies ahead. It is November 1917, and Michael, David and the rest of the Fighting 10th are about to plunge into the hell known as Passchendaele.
Based on the epic Canadian motion picture written by, starring and directed by Paul Gross, Passchendaele immortalizes the story of a battle that has become synonymous with the horrors of the First World War. Yet Passchendaele was also the scene of Allied victory, a triumph carried by Canadians, and one that helped form who we are as a nation. In a story of war, love, futility and sacrifice, Passchendaele reminds us of our country’s greatest strengths and our lasting achievements.
In Calgary, he finds a complicated love with Sarah Mann, a nurse dismissed from her position because of her German ancestry. Sarah is struggling to care for her chronically ill younger brother, David, and is devastated when he finds someone to lie on his medical certificate so that he can enlist in the war. Though Michael is haunted by his memories of the battlefield, out of duty and love he follows David to the Front. Neither of the two men knows what lies ahead. It is November 1917, and Michael, David and the rest of the Fighting 10th are about to plunge into the hell known as Passchendaele.
Based on the epic Canadian motion picture written by, starring and directed by Paul Gross, Passchendaele immortalizes the story of a battle that has become synonymous with the horrors of the First World War. Yet Passchendaele was also the scene of Allied victory, a triumph carried by Canadians, and one that helped form who we are as a nation. In a story of war, love, futility and sacrifice, Passchendaele reminds us of our country’s greatest strengths and our lasting achievements.
209 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 11, 2019
They saw what was left of the front-line trenches...mud and smouldering pyres and dead horses and smashed cannons...burnt bits of wagons...the stumps of blackened hollowed-out trees...spent Howitzer casings with their smoking tips pointing into the mud...
"Jesus," someone said.
Highway pulled up beside Dunne and said, "Mikey, there's nothing left to defend."
"Can't turn back."
"We could dig in here, wait for reinforcements."
"We have orders."
"This is a helluva time to start worrying about orders."
The Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, was fought over a period of just over three months in 1917 during World War I. Over 650,000 Canadians served in World War I, and of these some 100,000 took part in the Battle of Passchendaele. The number of Canadians that took part in this battle alone is equal to the size of the entire modern-day Canadian Armed Forces (this combines the Army, Air Force, and Navy). Canada played a critical role in the victory at Passchendaele, and in the end over 15,000 Canadians died in the battle. The battle has become polarizing, seen as a defining moment for Canada and a great victory by some, and as a strategic failure and a symbol of the futility of war by others. Historians today still debate whether there were any advantages gained by winning the battle.
Passchendaele was an absolutely horrible battleground to fight on. The clay ground mixed with near-constant rains meant trenches (which the soldiers lived in) were filled with water. Soldiers couldn't stray off the wooden planks laid across the battlefield for fear of sinking into the mud and drowning. It was a valid fear, for many soldiers died this way at Passchendaele. It was difficult to move and to gain any ground. It was constantly cold, and wet, and the odour of dead bodies clung to the mud and was heavy in the air. It is in capturing the horror of this atmosphere so completely that Paul Gross' Passchendaele truly shines.
The book is broken into two parts, the first part focusing heavily on the love story between Sergeant Michael Dunne and Sarah Mann, a military nurse. I'm not one for love stories, but I found this one seemed very natural and realistic, and the first part of the book does have more to it than just a love story, like the pre-Passchendaele battle that haunts Dunne throughout the rest of the book, and the shaping of his life after that battle. The second part of the book is the lead up to and the actual fighting at Passchendaele, and this part is both heartbreaking and uplifting.
This book does not read like an adaptation of a movie screenplay. It has a lot of period detail and is very well written. At times the story and writing are a bit clunky and boring, and it takes a long time to get to the actual battle (it doesn't start until near the end of the book), but I was able to overlook these things in the end in light of how solid the collective whole of the novel is. I came away from this book a lot more educated on what the world was like at the time World War I was fought, what battlefield conditions were like, and what soldiers of the period went through on a daily basis. This, combined with the great story, make Passchendaele a superb World War I period drama that I highly recommend.
June 23, 2015
all you would like in a five star book .highly recommend
March 2, 2021
fiction , but base on real stories his grand father told him .
July 5, 2022
A great peak in to Canada and Canadians during some pivotal moments for our country.
September 27, 2023
Paul Gross’ Passchendaele is powerful in its simplicity, its best moments born from simple character interactions and Dunne’s to-the-point but often poetic observations of the world. Passchendaele starts very strongly, but lags immediately after the intro with the start of Dunne and Sarah’s mediocre romance. Sarah and Dunne's relationship progressed way too quickly. I can believe that Dunne falls for Sarah superficially, since she is the first person to care for him when he gets back from the war, but I don’t really understand why she falls for him or why they actually love one another. It’s not a bad love story by any means. I just wish Gross had developed it better.
Overall, Passchendaele was just fine. I like Dunne, with his engaging mindset and background; David is a decently captivating portrayal of the average “out-of-his-depth” soldier; and Sarah is okay, although she could have benefited from stronger characterization—but the issue of her German heritage and her father’s choices were admittedly compelling. Maybe Dunne should have fallen in love with him instead, then there would at least be some interesting conflict.
My biggest criticism is about the climax: the hardcore religious symbolism, although justified in-text, was grossly heavy-handed, to the point of absurdity. Reading about a guy singlehandedly pulling a large wooden cross weighed down by a body through sucking mud while being shot full of bullets (with the man on the cross being spared of any additional wounds, seemingly) genuinely made me snicker. The ending was sad, but goddamn. That’s a bit over the top, don’t you think?
Overall, Passchendaele was just fine. I like Dunne, with his engaging mindset and background; David is a decently captivating portrayal of the average “out-of-his-depth” soldier; and Sarah is okay, although she could have benefited from stronger characterization—but the issue of her German heritage and her father’s choices were admittedly compelling. Maybe Dunne should have fallen in love with him instead, then there would at least be some interesting conflict.
My biggest criticism is about the climax: the hardcore religious symbolism, although justified in-text, was grossly heavy-handed, to the point of absurdity. Reading about a guy singlehandedly pulling a large wooden cross weighed down by a body through sucking mud while being shot full of bullets (with the man on the cross being spared of any additional wounds, seemingly) genuinely made me snicker. The ending was sad, but goddamn. That’s a bit over the top, don’t you think?
January 5, 2009
I bought and read this book after going to see the movie in the theatre. I enjoyed the movie thoroughly as both a romance and war movie. Reading the book brought back all of the emotions I felt while watching the film and so I enjoyed the book a lot more. I just wish that the book could have been a little different than the film. I found that the book was fairly short and was simply the movie put into print. I had hoped that it would have elaborated on the film more - maybe by going more in depth into the characters or including scenes that never became part of the film. This would have made the book amazing but nevertheless it was still a really great read.
I think books and films like this one are so important right now especially to young Canadians. Canada has no more soldiers living who served in the Great War. And very soon the world wont have any living memory of this war. It make me very emotional to think of how quickly young man and women around my age (20) had to grow up. These people made huge sacrifices so that we can live freely in Canada. This is the reason that I want to be a historian - I dont want Canadians or the rest of the world to forget what millions sacrificed.
I think books and films like this one are so important right now especially to young Canadians. Canada has no more soldiers living who served in the Great War. And very soon the world wont have any living memory of this war. It make me very emotional to think of how quickly young man and women around my age (20) had to grow up. These people made huge sacrifices so that we can live freely in Canada. This is the reason that I want to be a historian - I dont want Canadians or the rest of the world to forget what millions sacrificed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2011
Cardboard characters and a plot line more sutied to Louis L'Amour. However, as this is an adaptation of a screenplay I suppose some leeway must be granted. Thus I have given this book two stars when in fact it is perhaps more deserving of one star.
January 27, 2018
My brother-in-law, who is in the Canadian Armed Forces, said that his unit watched the Passchendaele movie from which this book was derived, and they all hated it. At the time, I dismissed his criticism as a bunch of soldiers wanting to see a war movie and not understanding that the movie may have been trying to achieve something more. However, years later after reading this book I co cede that my brother-in-law and his colleagues were etc much on to something. This book is a movie-tie-in novel for which the movie came first. As such, I was not expecting a great work of literature, but I was expecting a lot more than I received. Although ostensibly set around the First World War Battle of Passchendaele, very little of the book takes place at the Front, much less at the eponymous battle. The book follows a wounded, shell-shocked soldier trying to readjust to life in Calgary as a recruiter. He falls in love with his nurse and ultimately goes back to the Front to protect his love's head-string younger brother. The whole affair comes to a head in the closing chapters at Passchendaele. I feel I don't need to post a spoiler warning, as the conclusion of the book is obvious from the get go. It could have been a good story, it has the makings of one, but the characters just felt flat and uninteresting to me. I felt that the scenes in France preparing for battle and the battle itself lacked any sense of urgency. I admit I have not seen the movie from which this book was produced, and I am not really feeling any desire to see it. While I was not looking for great literature, so these comparisons are likely a bit unfair, but I would recommend Timothy Findley's "The Wars" or Kevin Major's "No Man's Land" over this one.
September 21, 2026
It's a grim, depressing story but what is worse is that there are implausible storylines and situations that end up making the whole thing feel contrived. For example, after extensive interaction with each other, the three protagonists separately enter (or re-enter) a very big war but miraculously all end up together on the same battlefield.
If I say anymore, I may spoil the book for other readers. Let them experience some of the other situations described in this book and judge for themselves. Perhaps they will shake their heads like I did.
I don't think I ever DNF'd a book as late as this one, but when I had finished the final chapter, at 94% read, I had it at that point and skipped the epilogue. The ending is a downer and I no longer cared what happened to the rest of the characters.
One or two stars? Two, because some of the writing was exemplary. But barely two, because the whole thing ultimately felt contrived. People have commented on how this novel is an adaptation of a movie screenplay. This may explain much.
If I say anymore, I may spoil the book for other readers. Let them experience some of the other situations described in this book and judge for themselves. Perhaps they will shake their heads like I did.
I don't think I ever DNF'd a book as late as this one, but when I had finished the final chapter, at 94% read, I had it at that point and skipped the epilogue. The ending is a downer and I no longer cared what happened to the rest of the characters.
One or two stars? Two, because some of the writing was exemplary. But barely two, because the whole thing ultimately felt contrived. People have commented on how this novel is an adaptation of a movie screenplay. This may explain much.
July 25, 2025
Adapted from the screen play from the movie that Paul Gross made, Passchendaele was a different read for me. I found the characters okay and the plot line reasonable, if not predictable. However, i didn't realize that Gross based the story off of that which his grandfather passed along when Gross was just 15.
The scenes do a good job of describing the battleground, as it was horrible. However, in my opinion, it took way too long to get to the battle, which we start working towards in the second half of the book. I would have liked to have gotten there a lot sooner. Really, we get the one big scene with predictable results, which left me feeling a bit let down.
Overall, I think the book was a decent read and I liked it. I enjoyed learning more about Paul Gross's career and his input in the movie and book. It was a quick leisure read that passed the time nicely.
The scenes do a good job of describing the battleground, as it was horrible. However, in my opinion, it took way too long to get to the battle, which we start working towards in the second half of the book. I would have liked to have gotten there a lot sooner. Really, we get the one big scene with predictable results, which left me feeling a bit let down.
Overall, I think the book was a decent read and I liked it. I enjoyed learning more about Paul Gross's career and his input in the movie and book. It was a quick leisure read that passed the time nicely.
August 24, 2017
I was inspired to read this novel by my 15 year old son who watched this movie as part of his Grade 10 Canadian History course. This historical fiction is about a WWI soldier who was reassigned to non-combative duties in his hometown of Calgary after being diagnosed with "shellshock", then subsequently returns to combative duties at Passchendale, Belgium. Although only 209 pages, the story touches on so many human issues related to war and was also an educational read. I am now compelled to see the movie in which this famous Canadian author/screenwriter plays the lead role.
April 16, 2019
It’s a book written from a movie, so it’s kind of flat, but the good element is that it help the reader understand the horrors of the 1st world war or as Canadians say, the Great War, and to understand the enlistment process.
The team of Canadian forces that went an retook an area thought to be hopeless helped to turn the tide, but at an enormous cost.
Read this, lest we forget.
The team of Canadian forces that went an retook an area thought to be hopeless helped to turn the tide, but at an enormous cost.
Read this, lest we forget.
May 31, 2020
Based roughly on the stories told by his grandfather of his experiences during the last part of WW1. Hard to put this book down even with the horrors of the war. Of special note is the last part of the book with Paul's overview of the real attack just outside the town, maps, information about the shooting of the movie and a reference bibliography.
August 22, 2020
I don't think I have ever read a book about a battle and I was a little concerned that my eyes would roll up in my head trying to visualize the actual play by play of one. I have utmost respect for our veterans and I thought I would give it a try. I was able to follow easily and found the telling of the story interesting!
May 26, 2020
I am happy to see a book involving my home province of Alberta and Hometown of Calgary
I enjoyed this quick read which is based on the screenplay
Don't look at the spoiler photos in the middle of the book before reading the story.
I enjoyed this quick read which is based on the screenplay
Don't look at the spoiler photos in the middle of the book before reading the story.
March 28, 2019
This novel immediately engaged me. Gross' writing was easy to follow, but this by no means implies his writing to be amateur. Such a good read- it's easy to read it all in one sitting!
November 8, 2019
As we remember all our veterans.
January 4, 2023
Great book got lost in the story of love and War. But definitely not a bedtime read
March 14, 2025
Paul Gross is one of those talented individuals who can turn out a great performance in film, on stage, and a it turns out, on paper. Read it and admire him more.
September 26, 2026
Great movie and book. I was surprised by how detailed the book was. Very well written and edited. If your Canadian you should read this book.
January 16, 2017
I couldn't put the book down it was that good. Awesome read I'd recommend anyone to read
January 6, 2024
A book that made me fall in love with the characters, and left me broken in pieces.
March 2, 2009
Passchendaele is a romanticized story around the extraordinary achievements by soldiers fighting a battle on blood-soaked grounds for almost four months, one that would become synonymous with the horrors of the First World War. Paul Gross highlights the determination, commitment and triumph of Canadians during this troubled time.
The book has a bit of everything: interesting characters, some temptation (drugs and sex), a passionate love story and in the background WW1 and its graphic battle scenes.
Sergeant Michael Dunne, a soldier who is brutally wounded in France returns to a Calgary military hospital where he meets and falls in love with Sarah an attractive nurse. When Sarah's brother David signs up to fight in Europe, Michael feels compelled to return to Europe with the hope of keeping David safe.
I was somewhat disappointed, I expected Gross would have elaborated more about the Canadian involvement in the battle it doesn't kick in till two-third into the book. Much of the story was dedicated to time in Calgary following the adventures of Sergeant Dunne and his girlfriend a drug addicted nurse. Sarah's brother comes in and out with his own problems and story.
As for the battle, it was muddy, bloody and pretty descriptive; it also had a sense of déjà vu. The novel literary wise has its ups and downs, it emphasizes life and sacrifice during the time of war.
Is this a love story or a war story, the decision is up to the individual reader.
The book has a bit of everything: interesting characters, some temptation (drugs and sex), a passionate love story and in the background WW1 and its graphic battle scenes.
Sergeant Michael Dunne, a soldier who is brutally wounded in France returns to a Calgary military hospital where he meets and falls in love with Sarah an attractive nurse. When Sarah's brother David signs up to fight in Europe, Michael feels compelled to return to Europe with the hope of keeping David safe.
I was somewhat disappointed, I expected Gross would have elaborated more about the Canadian involvement in the battle it doesn't kick in till two-third into the book. Much of the story was dedicated to time in Calgary following the adventures of Sergeant Dunne and his girlfriend a drug addicted nurse. Sarah's brother comes in and out with his own problems and story.
As for the battle, it was muddy, bloody and pretty descriptive; it also had a sense of déjà vu. The novel literary wise has its ups and downs, it emphasizes life and sacrifice during the time of war.
Is this a love story or a war story, the decision is up to the individual reader.
January 18, 2017
Passchendaele, based off of Paul Gross' screenplay is a book written about the movie and not a movie created from the book. Although, not having watched the movie myself, one can only assume the book could not be any better than the movie. The book racked in an average rating of three stars by Goodreads reviewers, while the movie gained a 3.5-star rating on IMDb ratings respectively. This mediocre rating reflected the quality of the writing quite well. Similar to the War Horse, the plot of the story was prolonged too much, producing areas of the book where some readers might find boring. When Sarah Mann's brother enlists and is sent to the front lines of World War I, Sarah believes Michael Dunne is to blame for her brother's actions. Fearing the death of his lover's younger brother, Michael Dunne re-enlists in the Canadian Miltary in order to protect his lover's asthmatic son. Creative description of the front lines allows readers to be fully emersed in the presence of the war without being overly exposed to all the gruesome details.
Overall Passchendaele is more of a love story than a war book, not leaning to either side, Passchendaele will be a disappointment for those who are seeking for either of those two. However, World War I junkies may find this book quite interesting, as it describes the front lines in a very descriptive way.
Overall Passchendaele is more of a love story than a war book, not leaning to either side, Passchendaele will be a disappointment for those who are seeking for either of those two. However, World War I junkies may find this book quite interesting, as it describes the front lines in a very descriptive way.
December 27, 2013
For some reason I didn't realize when I checked this book out from the library that it was a fictionalization of a movie. Ug. I haven't seen the movie, but I remain steadfast uninspired.
This book is about some cardboard cutout characters named Dunne and Sarah. There is a completely unrealistic morphine addiction, a wayward brother, German shaming, and a love affair. Oh, there is also a war. Dunne signs up again (under an assumed name) to protect the wayward brother, and Sarah is able to get sent overseas as a nurse without any papers either even though her dad served in the German army. They all magically end up in the same place. The ending with the no-man's land cross was unbelievably cheesy and I can't even imagine how it translated well in film.
This was more soap opera romance than historical fiction with romantic elements.
This book is about some cardboard cutout characters named Dunne and Sarah. There is a completely unrealistic morphine addiction, a wayward brother, German shaming, and a love affair. Oh, there is also a war. Dunne signs up again (under an assumed name) to protect the wayward brother, and Sarah is able to get sent overseas as a nurse without any papers either even though her dad served in the German army. They all magically end up in the same place. The ending with the no-man's land cross was unbelievably cheesy and I can't even imagine how it translated well in film.
This was more soap opera romance than historical fiction with romantic elements.
October 22, 2008
Passchendaele is the tale of Michael Dunne during the first Wolrd War. I believe this book is the first book from Paul Gross, more known for his acting. I didn’t quite know what to expect from the book. Although there are romantic elements to this book it is in no way a pure romance. The war scenes are well described without being too graphic. As the reader you get to feel how they might have felt or what they might have smelled on the battlefields. I am so glad I picked up and read this book. Mr Gross might be most known for his portrayal of a hot Mounty on the show Due South, but I believe he has a strong talent to be a novel writer as well. I can’t wait to read his next book.
For the full review http://www.leeannburke.com/blog/2008/...
For the full review http://www.leeannburke.com/blog/2008/...
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March 14, 2011A great fictional look at the WWI battle that catapulted Canada onto the international stage and out of the clutches of Britain. This is an exciting, entertaining, and easy read. It is also an excellent movie staring the writer in the lead role.
Paul Gross has taken some literary licence with this story but the seed that started this novel was a story his grandfather told him about his time as a soldier on the Western Front and at the Battle of Passchendaele.
His grandfather's name? Michael Dunne.
Paul Gross has taken some literary licence with this story but the seed that started this novel was a story his grandfather told him about his time as a soldier on the Western Front and at the Battle of Passchendaele.
His grandfather's name? Michael Dunne.
March 29, 2016
The writing in this book felt a bit awkward. I think it may be because the story is based on a screenplay. The war scenes were really well done, the inbetween was just sort of blah. What I really enjoyed is the included sections after the book had ended. They included sections on the actual events, historical background, and how the film came to be. I'm definitely going to track down a copy of the movie!
January 16, 2010
A book about WWI and a Canadian group of soldiers. The story follows one soldier who has returned from war and meets a girl and then a group of them go back to war. I think I knew how it would end, but still didn't really like the end. The book was written about a movie, not the other way around, so I don't think the book was any better than the movie would be, but still overall a good book.
December 12, 2012
A skillfully-adapted novel set in one of the most interesting times in history. The environment is rich and the characters are interesting. In spite of some persistent faults, I do not regret reading.
Also, in the copy I read, there were some gloss-printed pages that showed stills from the end of the movie, bound right into the book. Thanks, guys, I didn't want to be surprised by anything.
Also, in the copy I read, there were some gloss-printed pages that showed stills from the end of the movie, bound right into the book. Thanks, guys, I didn't want to be surprised by anything.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews