Summary
Claude Wheeler, a young man from a farm near Frankfort, Nebraska, grapples with self-doubt and a longing for a different life. Despite the constraints of his family's beliefs, he manages to briefly pursue his education before being called back to responsibilities at home. The narrative follows Claude's journey through various personal and historical challenges, culminating in his service and sacrifice during World War I.
Claude's Early Life and Aspirations
Claude Wheeler is consumed with a desire to escape his mundane life on a Nebraska farm. Lacking confidence in both his abilities and appearance, he yearns to pursue education away from home. Initially, his aspirations lead him to Temple University, a religious institution in Lincoln, where his family sends him due to their devout beliefs. However, Claude's quest for knowledge doesn't end there, as he eventually finds his way into specialized courses at Nebraska State University in the same city.
Experiencing a Different World
During his time at Nebraska State University, Claude befriends Julius Ehrlich and is introduced to the intellectually stimulating Ehrlich family. This exposure starkly contrasts with Claude's background, as he has predominantly been surrounded by fellow farmers, many of whom, like Ernst Havel, are immigrants. The Ehrlichs represent a world of ideas and possibilities that captivate Claude's imagination.
Return to the Farm
Claude's academic pursuits are abruptly halted when his father, Nat, purchases a ranch in Colorado, necessitating Claude's return to manage the family farm in Nebraska. Nat decides to spend most of his time at the new ranch, taking Claude's younger brother, Ralph, along. Consequently, Claude is forced to quit school to run the farm and care for his mother. Meanwhile, his other brother, Bayliss, enjoys a successful career as a banker in Frankfort.
A New Chapter with Enid Royce
Despite his initial reluctance, Claude efficiently implements modern farming techniques. His life takes an unexpected turn when an accident while driving a mule team leaves him severely injured. During his recovery, an old friend, Enid Royce, begins visiting him. Claude finds solace in her company, and after a brief courtship, they marry. However, their marriage is troubled from the start, with Enid asking Claude to sleep elsewhere on their wedding night.
A Marriage in Turmoil
The strains in Claude and Enid's relationship become even more apparent when Enid's missionary sister in China falls ill and Enid volunteers to travel there to help. Their marriage remains unfulfilled, and Claude is surprisingly unbothered by her departure. With Enid gone, Claude reflects on his life and the political tensions brewing in Europe.
Enlisting for a New Purpose
The escalating conflicts in Europe capture Claude's attention, and he sees military service as an escape from his stagnant life. Motivated by a sense of duty and a need to redefine his future, Claude enlists in the military. Following training, he becomes a lieutenant and sets sail for France aboard the Anchises, faced with the harsh realities of war even before reaching European shores.
Experiencing War's Brutality
As Claude sails across the Atlantic, the journey proves perilous, claiming the lives of several soldiers. Despite the hardships, Claude finds a sense of purpose and is assigned special duties as a medical assistant. He meets an aviator, Victor Morse, whose daring exploits and worldly demeanor inspire him. Once in France, Claude and his fellow soldiers march through its picturesque villages en route to the front lines, immersing themselves in the local culture and landscape.
Friendship and Cultural Exchange
Claude's perspective is broadened further by Lieutenant David Gerhardt, a professional violinist who joins his regiment. Gerhardt introduces Claude to the art and culture of Europe,...
(This entire section contains 775 words.)
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as well as the Joubert family, who have endured their own personal losses in the war. These interactions enrich Claude's understanding of the world and his place within it.
The Grim Reality of War
Marching onward, Claude encounters the harsh realities of war firsthand. A chance encounter with a destitute woman and her children reveals the personal toll of the conflict. As the soldiers take positions in the trenches, they face continuous shelling and witness the aftermath of brutal battles. News of Victor Morse's death after a courageous air battle adds to the growing sense of loss.
A Soldier's Final Stand
Claude, now in charge of a company, is stationed at a perilous section of the Moltke trench known as Boar’s Head. Under constant threat, he exhibits leadership and bravery, even as the Germans launch fierce attacks. In a desperate moment, he sends Gerhardt to deliver a message, praying for his safety over his own. As the battle intensifies, Claude's selflessness shines through, though he ultimately meets a tragic end, never knowing of Gerhardt's fate.
Extended Summary
One of Ours is made up of five books. Book I, “On Lovely Creek,” introduces the young Claude Wheeler in small-town Nebraska. Claude visits a traveling circus with friends and then goes back to school at Temple, the religious college he is attending in Lincoln. While there, he adds special classes in European history at the nearby state college and plays football for Temple. This allows him to make friends with new boys, and he begins to explore new intellectual worlds. Two girls show interest in Claude while he is at school, but he does not get involved with either of them. College is going well, but then his father buys a new ranch in Colorado. While Mr. Wheeler runs the ranch, Claude is left in charge of the family’s Nebraska farm. Even though it means giving up his studies, Claude pours his energy into his new position.
Book II, “Enid,” follows the next change in Claude’s life, which culminates in his marriage to Enid Royce. It begins when his father sends him to Colorado to see the new ranch. The distance makes Claude feel exceptionally lonely, and once he is back in Nebraska, he begins to visit the mill to see Enid. Their courtship is fairly slow until they get caught in the rain while driving and Enid drives them closer to home. Soon after that, Claude gets stuck by a barbwire fence and falls ill. Enid tends to him, and Claude falls in love with her. When he proposes, Enid says she does not think it is for the best, but they plan to marry anyway. Claude builds a new house for them to live in, but as it is built, World War I begins. They marry, but the nature of their marriage is signaled on their honeymoon night on the train. Feeling sick, Enid asks Claude to sleep elsewhere, and he agrees.
In Book III, “Sunrise on the Prairie,” the couple begin their life together. Enid keeps a fine house, but their marriage is hollow. When they have been married a year and a half, Enid’s sister falls ill and Enid goes to China to take care of her. Claude moves back home with his family. Claude eventually decides to go away to join the war. He enlists, but before he departs for Europe, he goes to see Gladys, the young woman his brother Bayliss has been courting. Gladys lets Claude know that she has always been interested in him.
Book IV, “The Voyage of the Anchises,” describes Claude’s passage across the Atlantic. Claude gets to know the men he will fight beside, and he ends up caring for a number of them as a plague races through the ship, killing many of the soldiers. Claude spends the most time trying to keep his friend and comrade Tod Fanning alive, going so far as blackmailing the steward (who has been stealing supplies to sell on the black market) to get food.
In Book V, “Bidding the Eagles of the West Fly On,” Claude and the men arrive in France and make their way to the front. Claude is useful to the other soldiers because he has studied some French. He meets David Gerhardt, who at first intimidates Claude with his sophistication. They eventually become friends. As the company travels, they begin to see the horrors of war: men with missing limbs, splintered families, orphans, and children so scared that they cannot speak. The men eventually experience battle, and some are wounded by German gunners. The company’s new doctor is killed, and Claude sprains an ankle when he falls in the attack. They recover for a while with a French family, the Jouberts. They then visit a home run by Mademoiselle Claire and Madame Fleury, and David is pressured into playing the violin for the family. Claude is impressed by his friend’s skill and talent. The company later marches to the front and enters battle again. After a skirmish, they spend an idyllic week in Beaufort, hosted by local women who welcome the soldiers as liberators. The men then move forward again, occupying a line of trenches called the Boar’s Head. It is uneven and full of bodies, and the Americans spend a lot of energy cleaning it up and reinforcing it with cement. Just before the Germans finally launch their big attack, Claude is left in charge. When the attack comes, the Boar’s Head explodes: it had been set as a trap for the Americans. Claude rallies his men, but he is shot and killed in leading the defense.
