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Loss of Eden #1
Now God Be Thanked
pp. 651, AEG, satin ribbon, silk endpapers, 2 raised bands, full gilt-embossed green leather, from the "The First Edition Society.".
590 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
John Masters
141 books55 followersMasters was the son of a lieutenant-colonel whose family had a long tradition of service in the Indian Army. He was educated at Wellington and Sandhurst. On graduating from Sandhurst in 1933, he was seconded to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) for a year before applying to serve with the 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles. He saw service on the North-West Frontier with the 2nd battalion of the regiment, and was rapidly given a variety of appointments within the battalion and the regimental depot, becoming the Adjutant of the 2nd battalion in early 1939.
During World War II his battalion was sent to Basra in Iraq, during the brief Anglo-Iraqi War. Masters subsequently served in Iraq, Syria and Persia. In early 1942, he attended the Indian Army Staff College at Quetta. Here he met the wife of a fellow officer and began an affair. They were later to marry. This caused a small scandal at the time.
After Staff College he first served as Brigade Major in 114th Indian Infantry Brigade before being "poached" by "Joe" Lentaigne, another officer from 4th Gurkhas, to be Brigade Major in 111th Indian Infantry Brigade, a Chindit formation. From March, 1944, the brigade served behind the Japanese lines in Burma. On the death of General Orde Wingate on 24 April, Lentaigne became the Chindits' overall commander and Masters commanded the main body of 111 Brigade.
In May, the brigade was ordered to hold a position code-named ‘Blackpool’ near Mogaung in northern Burma. The isolated position was attacked with great intensity for seventeen days and eventually the brigade was forced to withdraw. Masters had to order the medical orderlies to shoot 19 of his own men, casualties who had no hope of recovery or rescue. Masters later wrote about these events in the second volume of his autobiography, The Road Past Mandalay.
After briefly commanding the 3rd battalion of his regiment, Masters subsequently became GSO1 (the Chief of Staff) of Indian 19th Infantry Division, which was heavily involved in the later stages of the Burma Campaign, until the end of the war. After a spell as a staff officer in GHQ India in Delhi, he then served as an instructor at the British Army Staff College, Camberley. He left the army after this posting, and moved to the United States, where he attempted to set up a business promoting walking tours in the Himalayas, one of his hobbies. The business was not a success and, to make ends meet, he decided to write of his experiences in the army. When his novels proved popular, he became a full-time writer.
In later life, Masters and his wife Barbara moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. He died in 1983 from complications following heart surgery. His family and friends scattered his ashes from an aeroplane over the mountain trails he loved to hike. General Sir Michael Rose, the former UN commander in Bosnia, is a stepson of Masters.
During World War II his battalion was sent to Basra in Iraq, during the brief Anglo-Iraqi War. Masters subsequently served in Iraq, Syria and Persia. In early 1942, he attended the Indian Army Staff College at Quetta. Here he met the wife of a fellow officer and began an affair. They were later to marry. This caused a small scandal at the time.
After Staff College he first served as Brigade Major in 114th Indian Infantry Brigade before being "poached" by "Joe" Lentaigne, another officer from 4th Gurkhas, to be Brigade Major in 111th Indian Infantry Brigade, a Chindit formation. From March, 1944, the brigade served behind the Japanese lines in Burma. On the death of General Orde Wingate on 24 April, Lentaigne became the Chindits' overall commander and Masters commanded the main body of 111 Brigade.
In May, the brigade was ordered to hold a position code-named ‘Blackpool’ near Mogaung in northern Burma. The isolated position was attacked with great intensity for seventeen days and eventually the brigade was forced to withdraw. Masters had to order the medical orderlies to shoot 19 of his own men, casualties who had no hope of recovery or rescue. Masters later wrote about these events in the second volume of his autobiography, The Road Past Mandalay.
After briefly commanding the 3rd battalion of his regiment, Masters subsequently became GSO1 (the Chief of Staff) of Indian 19th Infantry Division, which was heavily involved in the later stages of the Burma Campaign, until the end of the war. After a spell as a staff officer in GHQ India in Delhi, he then served as an instructor at the British Army Staff College, Camberley. He left the army after this posting, and moved to the United States, where he attempted to set up a business promoting walking tours in the Himalayas, one of his hobbies. The business was not a success and, to make ends meet, he decided to write of his experiences in the army. When his novels proved popular, he became a full-time writer.
In later life, Masters and his wife Barbara moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. He died in 1983 from complications following heart surgery. His family and friends scattered his ashes from an aeroplane over the mountain trails he loved to hike. General Sir Michael Rose, the former UN commander in Bosnia, is a stepson of Masters.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 22, 2012
Peace
Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour,
And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping,
With hand made sure, clear eye, and sharpened power,
To turn, as swimmers into cleanness leaping,
Glad from a world grown old and cold and weary,
Leave the sick hearts that honour could not move,
And half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary,
And all the little emptiness of love!
Oh! we, who have known shame, we have found release there,
Where there's no ill, no grief, but sleep has mending,
Naught broken save this body, lost but breath;
Nothing to shake the laughing heart's long peace there
But only agony, and that has ending;
And the worst friend and enemy is but Death.
by Rupert Brooke
Page 107:
"But why would France attack Germany?"
"Revenge for 1871 ... and the best moment for France would be when Germany is threatened, or actually attacked, by Russia."
Page 131- 132:
On July 27th, 1914, after four weeks of threats, counter threats, entreaties, offers, negotiations, warnings and ultimatums, Austria declared war on Serbia. On July 30th Russia ordered general mobilization. On July 31st Austria and Germany followed suit. On August 1st Germany declared war on Russia, and demanded to know from France what's France attitude would be in the Russo-German war. France replied that she would act in her best interests; and, the same day, ordered general mobilization. On August 2nd, Germany demanded passage through Belgium for her armies, since this was the route laid down in her Schlieffen Plan for a war on two fronts. Belgium refuses the demand. On August 3rd Germany declared war on France, and her armies entered Belgium, whose frontiers and independence she and others had guaranteed. Among these others was Great Britain, who now required Germany to withdraw her troops from Belgium at once. If Germany did not agree to do so by midnight of August 4th, Germany time, a state of war would exist between Great Britain and Germany.
Besides the historical background of World War I, the plot describes the stories of two English families - the Rowlands and the Strattons - and their turbulent lives during this tragical period of the Humanity.
Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour,
And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping,
With hand made sure, clear eye, and sharpened power,
To turn, as swimmers into cleanness leaping,
Glad from a world grown old and cold and weary,
Leave the sick hearts that honour could not move,
And half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary,
And all the little emptiness of love!
Oh! we, who have known shame, we have found release there,
Where there's no ill, no grief, but sleep has mending,
Naught broken save this body, lost but breath;
Nothing to shake the laughing heart's long peace there
But only agony, and that has ending;
And the worst friend and enemy is but Death.
by Rupert Brooke
Page 107:
"But why would France attack Germany?"
"Revenge for 1871 ... and the best moment for France would be when Germany is threatened, or actually attacked, by Russia."
Page 131- 132:
On July 27th, 1914, after four weeks of threats, counter threats, entreaties, offers, negotiations, warnings and ultimatums, Austria declared war on Serbia. On July 30th Russia ordered general mobilization. On July 31st Austria and Germany followed suit. On August 1st Germany declared war on Russia, and demanded to know from France what's France attitude would be in the Russo-German war. France replied that she would act in her best interests; and, the same day, ordered general mobilization. On August 2nd, Germany demanded passage through Belgium for her armies, since this was the route laid down in her Schlieffen Plan for a war on two fronts. Belgium refuses the demand. On August 3rd Germany declared war on France, and her armies entered Belgium, whose frontiers and independence she and others had guaranteed. Among these others was Great Britain, who now required Germany to withdraw her troops from Belgium at once. If Germany did not agree to do so by midnight of August 4th, Germany time, a state of war would exist between Great Britain and Germany.
Besides the historical background of World War I, the plot describes the stories of two English families - the Rowlands and the Strattons - and their turbulent lives during this tragical period of the Humanity.
Want to Read
August 24, 2012This book is the first volume of a trilogy entitled LOSS OF DAY. The title is from a 1914 sonnet by Rupert Brooke:
Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour,
And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping,
With hand made sure, clear eye, and sharpened power,
To turn, as swimmers into cleanness leaping,
Glad from a world grown old and cold and weary,
Leave the sick hearts that honour could not move,
And half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary,
And all the little emptiness of love!
Oh! we who have known shame, we have found release there,
Where there's no ill, no grief, but sleep has mending,
Nought broken save this body, lost but breath;
Nothing to shake the laughing heart's long peace there
But only agony, and that has ending;
And the worst friend and enemy is but Death.
Dedication: To the victims of the Great War, among whom were the survivors.
Four family trees:
Strattons
Gorses
Durand-Beaulieus
Rowlands
Opening: As the arc of dawn passes over the steppes of Russian Asia it moves swiftly westward to pour its warmth on a royal and long-established continent - Europe.
Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour,
And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping,
With hand made sure, clear eye, and sharpened power,
To turn, as swimmers into cleanness leaping,
Glad from a world grown old and cold and weary,
Leave the sick hearts that honour could not move,
And half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary,
And all the little emptiness of love!
Oh! we who have known shame, we have found release there,
Where there's no ill, no grief, but sleep has mending,
Nought broken save this body, lost but breath;
Nothing to shake the laughing heart's long peace there
But only agony, and that has ending;
And the worst friend and enemy is but Death.
Dedication: To the victims of the Great War, among whom were the survivors.
Four family trees:
Strattons
Gorses
Durand-Beaulieus
Rowlands
Opening: As the arc of dawn passes over the steppes of Russian Asia it moves swiftly westward to pour its warmth on a royal and long-established continent - Europe.
February 11, 2018
699 pages
March 29, 2014
This is a superb book and I would recommend it to anyone. I had never heard of it but a few weeks ago I was debating TV coverage of World War 1 in an internet forum when someone recommended this book as an excellent work of fiction set in the great war. I looked the book up on Amazon and found that to buy it new would cost £50+, probably because it is out of print. However, used copies were available for £0.01 plus P&P so I ordered one.
The story begins just before the start of WW1 and ends in December 1915. It covers the lives of a number of people from different walks of life living in Kent. It has everything: the status of people from different social classes and how they live their lives and interact; harrowing tales from the battle field on land and at sea; personal conflicts born of the tension between ambition and duty to serve one's country; big and small business capitalising on opportunities presented by the war (or could that be people adjusting to circumstances beyond their control, due to the war, in order to survive); struggles with sexuality; youthful recklessness; lust; adultery; love; people coping with personal regrets and tragedies.....and more....I would never say a book is the best I have ever read because there are so many different stories, but this ranks amongst the best.....if you can get your hands on a copy!!
The story begins just before the start of WW1 and ends in December 1915. It covers the lives of a number of people from different walks of life living in Kent. It has everything: the status of people from different social classes and how they live their lives and interact; harrowing tales from the battle field on land and at sea; personal conflicts born of the tension between ambition and duty to serve one's country; big and small business capitalising on opportunities presented by the war (or could that be people adjusting to circumstances beyond their control, due to the war, in order to survive); struggles with sexuality; youthful recklessness; lust; adultery; love; people coping with personal regrets and tragedies.....and more....I would never say a book is the best I have ever read because there are so many different stories, but this ranks amongst the best.....if you can get your hands on a copy!!
June 16, 2016
I was sold on the fact that this was to be a novel really centering on World War 1, but a great deal of it dealt with characters back in Great Britain, and their lives .
It portrays four families and does a poor job on just dropping you into so many of lives simultaneously with no real purpose at times.
The battlefield scenes as well as the soldiers do appear, but is limited in these 700 pages. Too much time is spent on one character who is a poacher and has an ax to grind against the resident Earl.
This novel is really be more of a family saga taking place during the error. Other novels (see Phillip Rock's trilogy) have done this much better.
I'm not sure if I will continue with the other two books in this trilogy and wonder how involved with actual war they will include in the story lines.
It portrays four families and does a poor job on just dropping you into so many of lives simultaneously with no real purpose at times.
The battlefield scenes as well as the soldiers do appear, but is limited in these 700 pages. Too much time is spent on one character who is a poacher and has an ax to grind against the resident Earl.
This novel is really be more of a family saga taking place during the error. Other novels (see Phillip Rock's trilogy) have done this much better.
I'm not sure if I will continue with the other two books in this trilogy and wonder how involved with actual war they will include in the story lines.
November 12, 2015
This was book one of a trilogy recounting England's experience during world war I. Set in a rural English community it follows the lives of four families , each representing a different stratum of society, from lowly tenant, to upper class Lord. All know that the war will ineluctably change their lives and the England they formerly knew transformed. This was an illuminating look of the class divide that existed in England at this time ; in addition through it's characters touching on other social issues such as feminism, homosexuality and worker's rights. The author does a deft job at juggling the many different views and story lines.
wish-list
August 19, 2012ordered one penny wonder paperback 19/08/2012
Go to keep reading and FAST - the end of the world is in December this year *gasp*
Go to keep reading and FAST - the end of the world is in December this year *gasp*
September 11, 2023
It is august so I thought it was appropriate to read a book about WW1. This is a great book, that spans the run up to WW1 to the first years of the war. It follows five families and their trials and tribulations, the American family plays a small role. It takes you from what is happening on the home front to the trenches. It tries to explain to you about the horrors of WW1 and how it effects different families. A truly a far reaching and immense story. The main characters that stand out are the Squire, Christopher Cates, and the local poacher, Probyn Gorse. Highly recommended.
Read
August 8, 2024This was a bit of an epic for me. It is very small writing and 699 pages.
It is set at the start of the First World War in a small village. There are 4 families with lots of offspring and I did have to refer to the family tree at several points in the book. Several of the chapters featured newspaper reports as well as descriptions of some of the men stationed in France fighting.
I would not recommend this book as it is very long and draw out. I can’t ever remember taking this long to read a book as it really did not sing to me and most of the time it was a chore to read.
It is set at the start of the First World War in a small village. There are 4 families with lots of offspring and I did have to refer to the family tree at several points in the book. Several of the chapters featured newspaper reports as well as descriptions of some of the men stationed in France fighting.
I would not recommend this book as it is very long and draw out. I can’t ever remember taking this long to read a book as it really did not sing to me and most of the time it was a chore to read.
May 3, 2019
I've been unpacking some of my book boxes that have been in storage for almost a decade and I came across this one from c 1979. I remember only parts of this novel, that it was historical fiction set in England and about the war and how it affected those in England. It has a lot of drama with family members in England, in the IRA, and family members in the US. It's not just about the war, but history and complex relationships. Wish I could give you more!
March 23, 2019
At the beginning I wasn't sure I was going to like it - or the characters; but it improved, & by the end I couldn't wait to move on to book 2
February 14, 2020
Thank God I finally finished this book. It goes on forever.
September 29, 2010
Deel van een schitterende trilogie
February 1, 2015
I read this book when in the army myself many many years ago. Loved it then and love it now. Just sad that Kindle haven't available the next two in the trilogy.
August 10, 2016
Just one word for this one - epic.
August 15, 2016
Downton Abbey meets All Quiet on the Western Front
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews