A Very Long Engagement
Book Description
Love can conquer all—even the scars of war. In a post-World War I France, Mathilde vows to uncover the truth behind her fiancé's disappearance. Her relentless quest takes her through the twisted paths of betrayal, memories, and shattered lives. As she unearths buried secrets, the boundaries between hope and despair blur. Each revelation pulls her deeper into a web of suspense, testing the limits of loyalty and the endurance of the human heart. Will Mathilde’s unwavering determination lead her to the answers she seeks, or will it shatter her world forever? What price is she willing to pay for love?
Quick Book Summary
Set in post-World War I France, "A Very Long Engagement" by Sébastien Japrisot is a haunting tale of love, loss, and resilience. Mathilde Donnay, a young woman left disabled by polio, refuses to accept the official report that her beloved fiancé, Manech, died at the front. Convinced he is still alive, Mathilde embarks on a relentless search for the truth. Along the way, she uncovers tangled stories of betrayal, sacrifice, and bureaucratic indifference that affect not just her own fate but the lives of many others scarred by war. Through letters, interviews, and unexpected encounters, Mathilde’s journey deepens her understanding of the war’s enduring impact on the heart, testing the limits of hope and the lengths one will go for love.
Summary of Key Ideas
Table of Contents
Enduring Power of Love and Hope
Mathilde’s journey begins amid the ruins of post-war France, where she receives official notice that her fiancé, Manech, was executed alongside four others for self-inflicted wounds on the Somme front. Refusing to believe Manech is dead, Mathilde’s hope becomes the driving force behind her investigation. Her determination pushes her to revisit the traumatic circumstances of the war, despite opposition from skeptical family and indifferent authorities.
The Aftermath of War and Its Scars
Gathering evidence proves painstaking, requiring Mathilde to decode cryptic wartime letters, interview survivors, and sift through fragmented narratives. Each encounter brings her closer to the tangled web of the five condemned soldiers. She learns how the war not only claimed lives but also distorted the truth, forcing men to desperate choices and leaving families in limbo. Mathilde’s disability serves as a metaphor for the wounded nation, yet her resilience stands as a testament to unwavering hope.
Persistence Against Bureaucracy and Indifference
As Mathilde delves deeper, she uncovers the layers of moral complexity guiding everyone involved. Witnesses reveal both acts of betrayal and self-sacrifice, illustrating the unpredictable nature of war. For many, survival trumps loyalty; desertion, heroism, and compassion become inseparable. Mathilde’s quest demands she confronts the cost of knowing the truth, as each revelation brings pain as well as closure.
Moral Ambiguity and the Price of Truth
Through her efforts, Mathilde’s investigation becomes more than a personal quest—it is a means to piece together a broader tapestry of loss and memory left by World War I. Her search for Manech puts her in contact with other grieving families, offering fleeting comfort or disturbing revelations about their loved ones. The novel shows how lives intersect through war’s chaos and aftermath, binding strangers together in shared sorrow and hope.
The Interconnectedness of Lives in Wartime
Ultimately, Mathilde persists in the face of mounting obstacles. Whether she finds Manech or not, her journey is an act of devotion, giving voice to the silent casualties of war. The novel underscores that love and hope can endure even the darkest chapters of history, but not without exacting a price. Mathilde’s relentless pursuit illuminates not just an individual story, but the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming uncertainty.
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