The Return of the Soldier

By: Rebecca West

Narrated by: Christine Rendel

Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The Return of the Soldier is the powerful debut novel of the prolific English novelist Rebecca West. First published in 1918, the novel opens with the return of the shell-shocked Captain Chris Baldry from the trenches of the First World War, and grapples with the devastation of mental trauma from that war and its effects on families.

Recounted from the perspective of his cousin Jenny, the story examines the relationship between Chris and the three women in his life. Against the backdrop of an enclosed world roiled by public events, the novel also reveals shifts in England’s class structures at the beginning of the 20th century.

A haunting and poignant story of love, loss, and sacrifice, The Return of the Soldier has been described as one of the earliest attempts by a writer to examine the psychological effects on the soldiers who survived that monumental early 20th-century conflict.

Originally Published in 1918.

Public Domain (P)2021 Spoken Realms

Wonderful narration!!

A moving story was made all the more compelling by the beautiful narration by Ms. Rendel. Her command of accents and character interpretation has made her one of my Audible favorites.

A tragic war story and those who were affected

The book reflected D.H Lawrence works. After listening (audiobook) I researched Rebecca West history and read that Lawrence praised her work.

War is madness and those who succumbed to PTSD, in this case, amnesia.

Kitty lived in a world of mindlessness – a self-centered little girl who wouldn’t or couldn’t accept her husband’s illness.

The protagonist, Jenny is Kitty’s cousin. She understood who felt the pain for all the characters concerned.

Mrs. Grey was of simple folk: wise and compassionate.

It is neither a male of female book: it’s about Dukka, i.e., the pain and suffering of us humans.

A very worthwhile book.

The reader, Christine Rendel, spoke with many voices and with different English accents brilliantly (I’m British and recognize differences). She rendered the voices of the characters with incredible realism, and emotion.

Mesmerizing!

The narrator WAS the story. Her voice moved seamlessly between characters and wrought raw emotions from the reader. Excellently done!

Beautifully written and wonderfully narrated

I was unfamiliar with Rebecca West before listening to this short novel about a soldier's return from WWI. It’s a deeply moving account of how his mind has been altered by the horrors of war and how his family struggles to adapt to (or ignore) the changes. It’s told from the point of view of his female cousin who is forced to confront many of her deeply held assumptions and judgments in order to reconnect with her beloved, but now changed, cousin.
The narrator, Christine Rendel is a master of the craft. Each character is rendered with attention to accent, rhythm, and pace to give each speaker a uniquely realized personality. An unusual element of the novel is that it is told from the point of view of a character who has some really unappealing attitudes early on. Rendel does a beautiful job of making us care about her despite her initial callous remoteness so that as she begins to have greater insight and empathy, we are ready to travel with her. I’m very glad that I was introduced to this novel in audio format because Ms. Rendel's acting brought so much depth to several of the scenes where the interior and spoken dialogue are sometimes at odds. Reading it to myself, I would not have experienced it at the same level. Beautiful book and bravo, Ms. Rendel.

A beautifully narrated profound book of love and loss, wartime mental trauma, and the dissolution of British class structure

This book, written in 1918 by the young, brilliant novelist and historical chronicler Rebecca West, is more about the pity than the glory of war - in this case, World War 1 and depicts many of the effects of that conflict on those who served, as well as their families. Specifically, the story revolves around a shell-shocked British army officer who returns from France wounded and traumatized, and the 3 women at home who hold - or once held - central roles in his life. The war and changing times will shatter mores and beliefs and destroy dreams, and the terrible choices that must ultimately be made at the conclusion of this book feel shocking, conflicted and yet, in the name of truth, almost inevitable. The excellent British narrator, Christine Rendel, skillfully gets us to care about and feel empathy for each person. This is a moving and beautiful narration that has stayed with me of a small and profound book.

Wow

This novelette was recommended by The Times of London. I am so glad I found this old classic. A well told tale.