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The Camera
A young priest, Father Leauvin, is sent to the front during World War One in Verdun, France. His faith is shaken, not by war, but by love.
At the steps to his church, Father waves at a charming young lady. He turns and goes in the church where he gathers his things for his voyage to the front. One of his things is a camera, a Tourist Multiple.
He has a passion for taking pictures and this singular hobby drives his bishop, Bishop Manteau, to wonder where Father Leauvin’s heart and soul reside, with Christ or with his personal pleasures.
The bishop warns Father to mind his feelings and his faith.
Father Leauvin goes to the front and is given an escort, Sargent Phillipe Bouchard.
Sgt. Bouchard is happy to have Father with him. He’s happy because to escort a priest around means that he’ll avoid going into no man’s land. No man’s land is the dead ground that lies between the German trenches and the French trenches. Machine guns, sniper rifles, mortars and heavy artillery have their sights on that void between the enemies.
Father is mortified when the German’s attack and carnage spills over onto his cassock; he runs onto no man’s land and offers help to a downed soldier. The soldiers leg is a meaty end and Father finds himself lost in the melee; his faith and courage flee.
After the attack, Father regains his strengths. He takes pictures of the wounded, dying and the dead for the sake of other people to know what happens in war. Afterwards, he admires a picture of a woman that he met and ponders life outside his calling.
Therein lies his dilemma. He’s unsure whether to keep with his calling to Christ or give into his personal desires.
At the steps to his church, Father waves at a charming young lady. He turns and goes in the church where he gathers his things for his voyage to the front. One of his things is a camera, a Tourist Multiple.
He has a passion for taking pictures and this singular hobby drives his bishop, Bishop Manteau, to wonder where Father Leauvin’s heart and soul reside, with Christ or with his personal pleasures.
The bishop warns Father to mind his feelings and his faith.
Father Leauvin goes to the front and is given an escort, Sargent Phillipe Bouchard.
Sgt. Bouchard is happy to have Father with him. He’s happy because to escort a priest around means that he’ll avoid going into no man’s land. No man’s land is the dead ground that lies between the German trenches and the French trenches. Machine guns, sniper rifles, mortars and heavy artillery have their sights on that void between the enemies.
Father is mortified when the German’s attack and carnage spills over onto his cassock; he runs onto no man’s land and offers help to a downed soldier. The soldiers leg is a meaty end and Father finds himself lost in the melee; his faith and courage flee.
After the attack, Father regains his strengths. He takes pictures of the wounded, dying and the dead for the sake of other people to know what happens in war. Afterwards, he admires a picture of a woman that he met and ponders life outside his calling.
Therein lies his dilemma. He’s unsure whether to keep with his calling to Christ or give into his personal desires.
121 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2017
About the author
Michael S. Lachance
10 books28 followersTwenty years ago, Michael Lachance lived his short stories like defending his fort against foreign fighters, fought in a BB gun war against alien invaders, and rode his horse to save a friend in need. His passion for “against the odds” stories is evident in his novels and he often turns every tale on its side.
Michael loves to research so that details are authentic in his story like The Witch and The Roman; he traveled to Ostia Antica, Italy where his character lived. His genres are romance, historical romance, war, adventure, comedy, mystery, and religion.
Michael’s stories are published in twenty-eight countries and he is a member of the Romance Writers of America. He spends time with an espresso and his heeler, Maisie, while he writes.
Michael loves to research so that details are authentic in his story like The Witch and The Roman; he traveled to Ostia Antica, Italy where his character lived. His genres are romance, historical romance, war, adventure, comedy, mystery, and religion.
Michael’s stories are published in twenty-eight countries and he is a member of the Romance Writers of America. He spends time with an espresso and his heeler, Maisie, while he writes.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 11, 2019
I won this book/novella from Goodreads and I’m so happy that I received this novel.
This descriptions of the landscape of war and each character is written in such a way that you could visualize the events as they unfold. In parts, I had to re-read sections in the book because I wasn’t sure which character was talking and what characters was listening.
In my opinion, this book was a conceptual piece. The reader is put directly in touch of the choices that are demanded of oneself or the choices that a person has the opportunity to decide under their own control.
Fascinating novel!
This descriptions of the landscape of war and each character is written in such a way that you could visualize the events as they unfold. In parts, I had to re-read sections in the book because I wasn’t sure which character was talking and what characters was listening.
In my opinion, this book was a conceptual piece. The reader is put directly in touch of the choices that are demanded of oneself or the choices that a person has the opportunity to decide under their own control.
Fascinating novel!
November 1, 2019
Unlikely
I liked the simpleness of the story. It did seem highly unlikely that the events could occur in real life as they did in the book.
I liked the simpleness of the story. It did seem highly unlikely that the events could occur in real life as they did in the book.
November 4, 2019
I won this Kindle edition book in a Goodreads
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
Loved the book. Amazing characters!!
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
Loved the book. Amazing characters!!
October 4, 2017
Great attention to detail. Made me feel like I was living on the front line. Didn't want to put it down until I knew the fate of Father Lauvin!!
December 2, 2019
Reading this book felt like i was right there with them. Not sure if it was a happy ending !?!? - I guess no war has a happy ending! Well written, i would definitely recommend ...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews