Has anyone read the book by Guy Sajer? I'm thinking of ordering a copy from a local book store. I've been hearing reports that claim the book might be a work of fiction. Has anyone else heard of this? If so, to what extent? Is it a "Harry Potter" esque telling? Or is it more a collection of events that had happened to soldiers told through the eyes of someone?
I liked the Book. The Guy Sajer is actually Guy Mouminoux, Sajer is his mother's name and he addresses this briefly (one sentence) in the book. ( Guy Sajer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) If you Google "Guy Sajer" or "The Forgotten Soldier" you will find all the controversy you can handle; however, you will also find a lot of support from veterans he served with during the battle of Kursk and the retreat to Berlin. I personally think that the book has lost quite a bit in translation, as it was origianlly published in German then French and most recently English, which might account for the majority of the criticism. I think Sajer/ Mouminoux refers to the book as "his novel" to escape the stigma of having served in the Gross Deutchland division. IN any case read the book and come to your own conclusions. Brad
I will probably be picking this up, I've heard good things even people saying it is on par with "All Quiet on the Western Front". It definietly seems like it will contain enough information that respects the time period warranting a read. The guy who directed Total Recall, RoboCop, Starship Troopers, etc is making a movie, interesting.
The Forgotten Soldier is not actual history, it's to be taken as fiction albeit a very well written one. Think of for instance Len Deighton's Bomber. Not a history book but a damned good story. There is no controversy about Len Deighton's work, so... Mouminoux is someone very interesting, a very good comix designer, I have a few of his albums. Until a few years I hadn't the faintest idea of his other facet.
I think that it is true or at least heavily based on fact (much like Frederic Manning). It is a very good read.
I think I'm beginning to understand the format of the book now, it's basically a telling of multiple stories through one person in a sense? A historically fictional novel for lack of a better term, like a movie?
I read it once ages ago. Can't remember much about it to be honest. sure we've a few threads on it too.
The book is supposed to be based on events the author himself experienced. He admits that much of it is written from memory and therefore "facts" in the book may not coincide perfectly with history. From the manner in which he depicts events it seems obvious that he has a good deal of first hand knowledge of the events he describes and therefore did indeed experience them himself or at least witness them (at least, that's my opinion). The naysayers get wrapped up in pointing out every name or time line inconsistency in the book, as if the author was supposed to remember those things perfectly after so many years. Yes, it's worth reading.
I read it some years ago and found it to be an exciting read. Like the gentlemen says it is mor like a novel than a pure firsthand account. With that in mind it is a nice book.
sure we've a few threads on it too. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-films-tv/16702-guy-sajer-fact-fiction.html
I did a search but I wasn't finding much since the search engine was finding everything with the words "The Forgotten Soldier" in them, I looked for a bit but eventually gave up.
The naysayers get wrapped up in pointing out every name or time line inconsistency in the book, as if the author was supposed to remember those things perfectly after so many years. Well, at least von Manstein (v. Mellenthin, v. Luck, etc, etc) got his placenames right and his moves can be corroborated by paralell sources. What's so wrong with admitting it is well written fiction, written in the first person? At least this would kill any controversy.
Well, at least von Manstein (v. Mellenthin, v. Luck, etc, etc) got his placenames right and his moves can be corroborated by paralell sources. What's so wrong with admitting it is well written fiction, written in the first person? At least this would kill any controversy. Fiction based on the events of ones own lives and the lives of others is one thing, fiction based on your imagination is a completely other thing. I don't mind the first because it can make for a great learning experince.
Owen I read it once ages ago. Likewise , its well over 20 years ago , by chance of friend of mine has picked up a copy recently and has made a start on it. Something of a modern classic up there with "The Boat".
I too read it many years ago. A very good read. More than anything it conveys the hopelessness of the German soldier and is very dark at times. Still available here in Canada at Chapters/Indigo books.
