Wipers: A Soldier's Tale From the Great War

by Jeff Simmons

The World War One battlefield that bulged out around Ypres, Belgium, was one of the most horrific killing grounds of the bloody, four-year conflict. Not familiar with the proper pronunciation of "Ypres," (EE-pruh), the Allied soldiers called the sector "Wipers." The Allies took thousands of casualties daily there from 1914 to 1918. Unable to break the German line, a plan was made to dig 5 miles of tunnels under No Man's Land, planting charges, and blowing up the enemy from below. This novel follows a British miner-turned-soldier and his unlikely a mischievous, wisecracking soldier who was a magician in civilian life and joined the army under shady circumstances. Their struggle to survive is often tragic, yet often humorous. The story climaxes with the tunnel attack and the shocking aftermath. Ultimately, it shows war is not glorious; it ruins lives, even among those who survive.

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2009

Reviews

[DROPPING OUT · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Product information:] “The World War One battlefield that bulged out around Ypres, Belgium, was one of the most horrific killing grounds of the bloody, four-year conflict. Not familiar with the proper pronunciation of "Ypres," (EE-pruh), the British soldiers called the sector "Wipers." The Allies took thousands of casualties daily there from 1914 to 1918. Unable to break the German line, a plan was made to dig 5 miles of tunnels under No Man's Land, planting charges, and blowing up the enemy from below. This novel follows a British miner-turned-soldier and his unlikely companion: a mischievous, wisecracking soldier who was a magician in civilian life and joined the army under shady circumstances. Their struggle to survive is often tragic, yet often humorous. The story climaxes with the tunnel attack and the shocking aftermath. Ultimately, it shows war is not glorious; it ruins lives, even among those who survive.”

I found this book to be a great and perhaps one of the finest works of fiction I have read recently.

I base my opinion on the testimony of my late father-in-law, who served in the American Expeditionary Force in France, in a unit under the command of a captain named Harry S. Truman. Like many combat veterans, Dad never talked about his wartime experiences, that is, until I came along fifty years after World War I had ended. By that time, he was ready to open up, and he regaled me with hair-raising tales from his days in the trenches. I mention this because in reading Simmons' book, I felt as if I were revisiting many of the same stories I had heard forty years ago.

The characters Simmons created are true to life, the plot is well paced, and the dialogue crisp. (I'll go so far as to say that I cannot recall another first-book author whose dialogue was so life-like. Simmons seems to have a gift that experienced authors might envy.)

I did not find the pace of the narrative flag over the more than 230 pages, and the denouement came with an appropriate "slam-bang".

Okay, I did find scattered examples of "Americanisms" instead of proper British usage. (E.g., "pants" instead of trousers [there IS a difference!:] and "give it a shot" instead of "have a go at it.) But these were few and far-between and did nothing to mar or otherwise detract from the narrative.

My only regret is that this was not published by a major publisher, for it deserves proper marketing, for I think Wipers has the makings of a best-seller. Moreover, with the centennial of The Great War only a few years off, I also think that Wipers could easily be turned into a highly successful screenplay.

The next thing I am going to do is to order several more copies, one especially for my son so he might have a better idea of what his grandfather experienced over ninety years ago.

[Christopher Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book knowing next to nothing about the subject matter, but soon found myself invested in the lives of the main characters and enjoying their interaction. I was surprised by what seemed to me like an abrupt ending and quick resolution and found myself wishing for a little more time to wrap up the story. I liked reading the book and do recommend it for others who want a glimpse into this terrible moment in history.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A harrowing fictional account of the Battle at Ypres, told from the point of view of an English coal miner. An amazing read.