Book 4 of 2022! Well, maybe book number 5 as well? War: Tales of Conflict and Strife comprises of Going Solo, a book which illustrates Dahl's own experiences as a fighter pilot in the RAF during World War 2, as well as 7 additional short stories that carry forward the titular theme: War.
It really was interesting to read this one. After my not-so-pleasant read which was The Best of Roald Dahl, this renewed my faith in his writing because the stories were raw and truthful. Truthful to the fact that war in itself is a global display of people's egos. When Dahl nearly died in the plane crash or when he was in the sky all alone fighting the enemy for reasons that certainly did not have to put his life on the line, it made me thinking:
'What's changed over these 70 years or so is, well, nothing much. People are still being sent to fight in wars. People are still finding themselves in a helpless, hopeless situation all because of the egos of their leaders.'
Here are my thoughts on Going Solo and 3 gripping, memorable short stories from War.
Going Solo (1986) ★★★
The writings of his own experiences are reliable to understand the extraordinary, vicious cycle of emotions Dahl felt. From being proud of serving his country to regret and sorrow, he had provided a great insight into the war. And something that stood out, personally, was the war within himself; the constant contemplation of life (and death) as well as the post-war effects on him was emotional to read about.
Death of an Old Man (1945) ★★★
A fictional tale that might be relatable to many soldiers around the world, this is a story about a man who did not give up but rather gave in to war. He gave in to it he couldn't control war as the events of war and its consequences were set in stone by the leaders who began it.
At the end, death seemed like the more peaceful option than enduring war to this man. And this tone will stay with you for some time because it just amplified the grim situation.
Yesterday Was Beautiful (1945) ★★★★
As you read this short story, you will realise the various ways war affects people — at the battlefield or at the home front — because it is about an English pilot who seeks help from an old Greek woman who expresses her disgust at the Germans and how he should kill them all. The hatred that stemmed from nationalist propaganda had made people to believe in violence rather than peace.
Is violence really the way to bring about peace? Paradoxically, this is what happens with most situations in life. Two completely opposite things have to co-exist to be there. Take happiness, for instance. It is a state of mind, where only if you have experienced sadness can you realise that when you are not sad you are happy. Maybe war is the balance the world needs for peace? These are the many thoughts that rush through your mind when you read this story.
The Soldier (1953) ★★★★
After reading this, I learnt that soldiers did not leave their role after the war had ended. They were soldiers for life, fighting their demons and facing the incredibly horrifying trauma from war. This story was about a man with clear symptoms of PTSD whose mental breakdowns escalated to what made a really good climax, in my opinion. The worst part? He was alone even after the war.
This was the last story of the book, and I'm thankful I ended it with a memorable read.
Final thoughts
War certainly was dark, as it should be, but it successfully shed light on how everyone was affected: those in the air, those dying, those killing, those who survived and those who were living to witness the cruelty of humankind.
Please read this if you can, because it is a great way to reflect on the crises that are occurring currently. Dahl's writings have shown that war has been one the main constants throughout the year. Today is not as much better than yesterday as it should be.
What did you think? Drop a message anytime!
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