Good, sometimes brilliant short (sometimes very short) stories from a youthful German combatant in WWII. These are youngsters caught up in fearful, absurd and degrading conditions and live minute to minute. Even so, these stories are made human because the characters at the centre of them cherish any possible relief that comes to hand. It may be wine or beer, but so often it is the desperation to purchase the next cigarette.

A brilliant collection of short stories about being a soldier and about being a human being. The stories are quite dark, but so well written that the reader feels compelled to continue. The stories are set during WWII, written by Heinrich Boll, who served in the German Army on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. His stories are not about being German so much as about being human. Themes include: fear, hope, despair, the essential desire for human contact, longing for the familiar, adjustment post-war, and love. ( )

First American edition; striking cover design by Cynthia Krupat.