John Boyne is an Irish writer who is best known for his novel "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", a story about a friendship between two young boys during the Second World War. I haven't read that book (although I have seen the film adaptation of it, which is OK). However, I suspect that Boyne will, from now on, be most associated with this more recent novel, which is very good indeed.

"The Absolutist" - a term used to describe someone who is considered to be a particularly forceful conscientious objector to participation in armed combat - is the story of a complex friendship between two young English soldiers during the First World War. The principal character is Tristan Sadler, a 21-year old veteran of the war, who works in publishing. The story opens in 1919 with his journey from London to Norwich to meet Marian Bancroft, who is the sister of his late friend from the trenches of France, Will Bancroft. Tristan's purpose in visiting Marian is to hand over some of Will's letters to her. From there, the book moves to and fro between that trip to Norwich and the time Tristan and Will spent training in Aldershot and in active combat in France. It then ends with a particularly effective and resonant coda some 60 years later, by which time Tristan is a successful author. It would spoil things if I were to say any more than that about the plot.

"The Absolutist" is a novel about friendship; about the sexual and moral shame that emanated at that time from homosexuality and from conscientious objection and apparent cowardice; about homophobia; about suffrage; and about family life and relationships. It is beautifully written in simple, direct language that makes it easy to read. It is also well-constructed. The characterisation is excellent. And the conclusion is extremely moving. My one concern about the book is this. All novels these days are, I suppose, derivative to some extent. However, "The Absolutist" reminds me very much of another very good novel by an Irish writer about the First World War - "How Many Miles to Babylon?", by Jennifer Johnston. There are, of course, some differences but the basic plot of both books is very similar indeed. Nonetheless, "The Absolutist" is a fine novel that is well worth reading. 8/10.