[close] Of the fearful battles that scarred the last century, Verdun, 1916, in which more than half a million Frenchmen and Germans died or were wounded, stands as one of the most tragic and futile. Jules Romains' novel brings the cataclysmic clash vividly to life, whether in the trenches, under the terrifying artillery bombardments, or in the headquarters of the general staff. First published in 1937, and unavailable for many years, this is an epic masterpiece of war literature [close]