Peace by Richard Bausch

Peace

Richard Bausch

Set in Italy during the last few days of World War 2, the story is essentially played out over just one act. US soldier Corporal Robert Marson leads a band of three men on a treacherous mountain ascent, testing their physical and mental endurance to the ultimate limit. I felt a great empathy for the soldiers, and became absorbed with every step of their painful journey.

Extract
The woods seemed more dense in the gloom. At one point it came over him like revelation that he was in Italy, alone, in woods, in the middle of the longest night of his life, and there was someone out there with a scope rifle, hunting him.
Parallels
  • The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
  • The Zookeeper's War by Diane Ackerman