The Broken Soldier and the Maid of France

by Henry Van Dyke, Frank E. Schoonover (Illustrator)

Henry van Dyke (1852-1933) was an American author, educator, and clergyman. He graduated from Princeton University, 1873, and from Princeton Theological Seminary, 1874 and served as a professor of English literature at Princeton between 1899 and 1923. In 1908-09 Dr. Van Dyke was an American lecturer at the University of Paris. By appointment of President Wilson he became Minister to the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1913. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received many other honors. He chaired the committee that wrote the first Presbyterian printed liturgy, The Book of Common Worship of 1906. Among his popular writings are the two Christmas stories The Other Wise Man (1896) and The First Christmas Tree (1897). Various religious themes of his work are also expressed in his poetry, hymns and the essays collected in Little Rivers (1895) and Fisherman's Luck (1899). He compiled several short stories in The Blue Flower named after a story by Novalis in 1902. He also contributed a chapter to the collaborative novel, The Whole Family (1908).

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1919

About the author

Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933) was an American Presbyterian clergyman, educator, and author. He graduated from Princeton in 1873, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1874. He was pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church, New York City (1883-99), professor of English literature at Princeton (1899-1923), and U.S. minister to the Netherlands (1913-16).

Among his popular inspirational writings is the Christmas story The Other Wise Man (1896). As President Wilson's ambassador to the Netherlands from 1913, Van Dyke was a first-hand witness to the outbreak of World War I and its progress, and was a key player in the President's diplomatic efforts to keep the U.S. out of the conflict.

Not to be confused with his father, Henry J. Van Dyke (1822-1891).

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/van-dyke...

Reviews

[Judith P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this book up, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. It's short enough that it is kind of hard to talk about without spoiling the whole thing, but I will give it a go.

It is definitely better described as a religious fable than anything else. Tonally, it is written very like a fairytale, and it presents its moral in a similar way. A one sitting read. Plot-wise, it is about a French soldier in WWI with very bad PTSD, who is contemplating deserting his post. On his way, he runs into a priest in the very town that Joan of Arc was born.

There are moments where the story is very clearly a product of its time (the soldier fighting for France is equated with God's will, etc) but even in those moments, it does a beautiful job illustrating that a soldier fights to protect those he loves, not to kill those he hates. I can see how, at the time it was published, it would be a very healing book for WWI vets to read.

More than anything, though, I think it's a story about fear and valor, and doing what you must not because you desire it, or because you aren't scared, but because it is your duty. To stand firm in faith when horrors rage around you. To give all that can be given for the greater glory of God and the protection of the innocent.

P.S. The descriptions of nature are so, so, so beautiful, and it's worth the short read if only for that!

[Marge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant story of doubt and revival during WWI in France

[Emily Koester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that took me all of an hour to read. But it was a good story.

[Lindsay Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was different than I thought it would be content wise - I didn't realize that it was set in WWI (I had assumed the broken soldier would be during Joan's time). Once I got recalibrated, I greatly enjoyed this book. It is surprisingly simple yet beautifully written and the messages are poignant and meaningful. I look forward to reading it again.