Doug Hormann

I loved “A Soldier of the Great War”, but this reads like a book by someone who’s experience with the Navy comes mainly from watching “In Harm’s Way”, reading the “Naval Officer’s Guide” or maybe “The Blue Jackets’s Manual”. While creative license is a fact of good story telling, anyone reading this, who has served in the Navy, is rolling in the aisles. The naval cliches come fast and furious, so much so that this book could be used as a drinking game. Navy personnel do not wear covers (hats) indoors, and do not salute when uncovered. The only exception is when they are under arms, i.e. bearing weapons. They would not render salutes just because “he was the President”. Mr. Helprin builds up Captain Rennsaeler to be the very epitome, and very cliched, example of the virtuous and lonely naval command officer who lives for his calling. His personal life is a shambles, because his first love is his duty and the sea. (Cue up “Brandy” by Looking Glass.). The notion that this decorated Navy Captain, suddenly going off the deep end and calling the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy liars, in the Oval Office before the CIC, is “Lord of the Rings” level fantasy! Anyone even suspected of being prone to such insubordinate outbursts would have been cashiered early in their career. If not outright court-martialed, he would certainly not be given command of a ship when their a countless deserving officers on the list for such commands. Quite simply, he wouldn’t be given command of a dinghy. Perhaps I’m being too strict with how Navy protocol works, but the writing isn’t up to Mr. Helprin’s usual standards either. Again, cliche ridden, but also profuse with flowery language and burdened with overly long descriptions that seem to be as much about showcasing his substantial vocabulary as they are about painting a picture in words. Sometimes, you are left wondering what he’s even talking about. What does he mean when describing New Orleans as a place where one can “mysteriously lay down while standing up”? It’s certainly a unique place, but the description reads as something from a travel brochure and doesn’t resonate. Sadly, this could have been a great read, the story, even as contrived as it is, is compelling, but there are much better examples of the genre availablle.