A novel about WWI without doing no more than lightly brush the subject is quite a feat.
It centers around Chris, a soldier suffering from shell-shock, which accumulated to him losing his memory of the last 15 years of his life.
The novel starts with the narration of his cousin Jenny, on a moment they are still unaware of the tragedy befallen him. We are introduced to him as an adventurer that settled down with a beautiful wife Kitty with whom he's (or for whom) he's remodeled the great house of his childhood to fit her needs.
We also are informed that they lost a son, Oliver.
Then they receive a visitor, someone from the lower classes, that tells them their beloved Chris is in a French hospital. The woman in question knows this because Chris has written her about it. She's very nervous and at first the two women think she's an impostor.
When the truth finally dawns on them, they realize the woman is a childhood crush Chris has 15 years ago. In order to restore his health he's eradicated the last 15 years and went to the last moment in time he's truly felt happy.
As we get to know the story I started to feel sorry for them as they've had the most misfortune in their lives. They loved each other, but due to circumstances they've never had the chance to start a life together. But Chris is adamant in wanting to see her again, as she is now.
Both Jenny and Kitty believe he will be cured of his amnesia as soon as he sets eyes upon her because she's the essence of the lower class in her crude appearance, whereas Kitty and Jenny surround themselves with the beauty and luxury of being upper class.
The Return of the Soldier, a title which serves more than one purpose, because this is a heartfelt story about love conquering time and class, but also heartbreaking as the most true love is eventually the call back to reality. A reality where Chris is doing nothing more than keeping up appearances.
I'd like there to be an extra chapter, my romantic self wants to know how he chooses, what becomes his life, but that fact is spared. Probably to spare Chris the humiliation of being born in a time that choosing love has never had the upper hand.
