Account Rendered

by Vera Brittain

Account Rendered A Novel

Genres: British Literature

347 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

Vera Mary Brittain was an English writer and pacifist, best remembered as the author of the best-selling 1933 memoir Testament of Youth, recounting her experiences during World War I and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism.

Her daughter is Shirley Vivian Teresa Brittain Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby, who is a British politician and academic who represents the Liberal Democrats.

Reviews

[LizTrue]

The main incident of Account Rendered - a man kills his wife while under the grip of a temporary amnesia - is apparently based on a true incident known to the author. Brittain changed the profession and personality of the main character to create Francis Halkin, a musician and factory owner. He is an attractive character, successful and popular, but he has suffered serious damage to his mental health during the First World War. When the country is plunged into another war while he is still relatively young, the damage becomes all too apparent when his wife is discovered drowned and he himself is in the water nearby, near death. Francis is committed for trial despite the fact he has no memory of what led to this.

Brittain's passionate anti-war convictions are evident throughout the novel as various experts testify about Francis' mental state throughout his trial. The central message is clear - that Francis is a victim and is not to be held responsible for his actions. Eventually he is rehabilitated and restored to society with a new wife and the hope of a new life in his unborn child.

However, despite all the discussions about the evils of war, the realities of the subconscious and possibilities for healing, I was left with an uneasy feeling. This is largely because I got the distinct impression the author did not like or approve of Sally, the murdered wife. Beautiful and musically talented, she is highly strung, somewhat introverted and too nervous to want children. All this puts an added burden on Francis who is running a business and carrying out ARP duties while she seems to sit at home wringing her hands. We are told Francis loves her deeply but I was left with the uneasy feeling that his killing her might actually be because on some level he wanted to be rid of her. His second wife, Enid, is very different - strong, positive, supportive and unlike Sally does not keep Francis at arms' length sexually. We learn that Francis was already attracted to her while his first wife was alive. It just made it difficult for me to acquit Francis quite as easily as his friends and the author seem to have done. Nevertheless there is much to enjoy in this vivid and energetic novel. Some of the discussions about the reasons for war and the personalities who provoke them are as relevant today as they were then.

[Margaret]

Some interesting characterization, but generally dreadfully didactic (unsurprisingly for Brittain; see my review of Honourable Estate) and some truly terrible wooden dialogue.

[Sam Smith]

Remarkable apposite considering today's concerns with post-traumatic stress disorders. A present day editor would probably have cut down some of the lengthier considerations, not that I disagreed with the anti-war stance. As relevant today as then.