A Soldier of the Great War

by Mark Helprin

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A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin unfolds the poignant tale of Allesandro Giuliani’s formative years, particularly his harrowing experiences during World War I. Set primarily in 1964, the narrative embarks on a reflective journey with Allesandro as he reminisces about a past marked by love, sacrifice, and survival. The story weaves between the present and past, illuminating the impact of war on both his life and soul.

The Unexpected Journey

In 1964, Allesandro Giuliani, a man seasoned by time and trials, boards a streetcar in Rome, intending to visit his granddaughter’s family. An unexpected encounter with Nicolo Sambucca, a young and earnest factory worker, alters his course. When Nicolo’s attempt to board the moving streetcar fails, Allesandro insists on stopping the vehicle, but the driver refuses. This prompts Allesandro to propose an unlikely plan: the two will traverse the seventy kilometers to their destinations on foot. Despite their disparate backgrounds—Allesandro hails from a distinguished Roman lineage and teaches aesthetics, while Nicolo is unversed in such intellectual pursuits—their shared journey becomes a catalyst for storytelling.

Idyllic Beginnings

Allesandro reflects on a time before the war when life was serene, centered around his family and their Roman home. A defining moment comes one evening as he hears a melody emanating from the French Academy garden. Venturing in, he meets Ariane, a strikingly beautiful sixteen-year-old girl who captivates him instantly. His youth also sees him coming to the aid of Rafi Foa, a university peer targeted because of his Jewish heritage. Through this act of bravery, Allesandro forges a lifelong bond and introduces Rafi to the thrill of mountain climbing.

War's Imminent Shadow

As Europe marches toward conflict in 1914, Allesandro’s journey takes him to Munich to admire Raphael's portrait of Bindo Altoviti. The painting’s enduring nature and the subject’s audacious expression inspire Allesandro, hinting at an eternal vitality. Yet, the distant rumble of war’s artillery signals the encroaching turmoil. Choosing the navy in hope of evading infantry’s horrors proves futile as Allesandro is stationed as a river guard amidst familiar mountains.

Encounters and Decisions

In these rugged terrains, Allesandro meets Guariglia, a harness-maker from Rome. Despite his disconnection from the political motivations driving the war, Allesandro excels as a soldier. Ultimately, he and Guariglia are tasked with pursuing deserters in Sicily. During a brief respite in Venice, Allesandro ponders Giorgione’s La Tempesta, a depiction of figures poised under an impending storm, mirroring his turbulent life. Ironically, while escorting captured deserters, Allesandro and Guariglia choose desertion themselves, compelled by the nonsensical brutality of the task.

Fractured Loyalties

Returning to Rome, Allesandro’s father is gravely ill, prompting a desperate quest for medicine. He solicits the help of Orfeo Quatta, an eccentric former colleague now entrenched in the defense ministry. Orfeo, a man obsessed with a mystical "blessed sap," reveals his clandestine manipulation of Italy’s war directives, including Allesandro’s initial posting. Though Orfeo supplies the needed remedy, it arrives too late. Allesandro is imprisoned, facing execution, but Orfeo’s intervention spares his life once more, albeit at a cost to his conscience.

Love and Loss

Resuming his military duties, Allesandro sustains injuries and finds unexpected solace in the care of a nurse—Ariane, his enchantress from yesteryear. Their reunion sparks romance, and Ariane soon carries his child. Yet, as Allesandro is called back to battle, an Austrian bombing obliterates the hospital, seemingly extinguishing his nascent family. In a twist of fate, Allesandro retrieves his friend Rafi’s body amidst enemy fire, acknowledging the war’s relentless toll.

A Quest for Retribution

At war’s end, as a prisoner in Vienna, Allesandro escapes to Munich, driven by...

(This entire section contains 825 words.)

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vengeance against the pilot responsible for the bombing. Confronted with the humanity of the pilot’s young child, Allesandro reconsiders, opting instead for forgiveness. In Munich, he revisits Raphael’s Bindo Altoviti, finding solace in the notion that memories transcend loss, keeping Ariane alive in his heart.

Life After War

With his father deceased and his sister abroad, Allesandro redirects his life towards simplicity, becoming a gardener. Venice draws him again to La Tempesta, where he envisions the painting as the story of his life—a soldier returning to a family besieged by storms. A mysterious woman and child weeping before the art spark hope that Ariane might still linger in the world. Following this premonition, he discovers his son in Rome, playing with a toy boat, affirming life’s unexpected continuities.

Reflections of a Lifetime

Back in 1964, Allesandro and Nicolo reach the end of their journey. Having shared his life’s tapestry, Allesandro recounts his years with Ariane and their son, both now lost to the ravages of war. Feeling his own life wane, he bids farewell to Nicolo, descending into solitude, absorbed in his memories and artistic reflections. Allesandro’s story, a mosaic of war, love, loss, and survival, endures as a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

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