Behind the Lines

It’s no surprise that a young soldier who could only make it through a long dark shift on watch by reading Shakespeare was not cut out for war. Ian Patrick’s ‘Behind the Lines,’ is a stunning autobiographical account of his experiences as a soldier in a time of military conscription in South Africa......more

I decided to read this collection a second time. As I said when I first read them I said: "Ha, ha! Very, very good. A lovely little collection of superb short stories." My feelings about it are exactly the same. I am so impressed with this. Subtlety. Intelligence. Wit. And really nice insights into t......more

This was so entertaining. It was over far too quickly. I read each of the stories one after the other and it made such a satisfying whole. These poor, poor guys who had to do army training during a terrible time. But what a nice attitude he has about it. Self-critical and witty and intelligent. I kn......more

How totally beautiful was this. A young man little more than my son's age having such beautiful thoughts amidst such awful experiences. What lovely advice the older boy (or 'older young man', I suppose) - Glen - gives him in the second story. If only all our children were given such sage advice. The......more

I'm pleased I didn't have to serve in the apartheid army. This young white man survived. Good for him. His values were correct, but he suffered. And won. Well-written stories.......more