Covenant with Death

By: John Harris

Narrated by: Mike Rogers

Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

They joined for their country. They fought for each other.

When war breaks out in 1914, Mark Fenner and his Sheffield friends immediately flock to Kitchener's call. Amid waving flags and boozy celebration, the three men - Fen, his best friend Locky, and self-assured Frank, rival for the woman Fen loves - enlist as volunteers to take on the Germans and win glory.

Through ramshackle training in sodden England and a stint in arid Egypt, rebellious but brave Fen proves himself to be a natural leader, only undermined by ongoing friction with Frank. Headed by terse, tough Sergeant Major Bold, this group of young men form steel-strong bonds, and yearn to face the great adventure of the Western Front.

Then, on one summer's day in 1916, Fen and his band of brothers are sent to the Somme, and this very ordinary hero discovers what it means to fight for your life.

Stirringly told from the down-to-earth view of everyday soldiers, Covenant with Death is acclaimed as one of the greatest novels about war ever written.

©1961 John Harris (P)2014 Hachette Audio

A superb Great War historical novel

My grandmother was born in Sheffield. I can remember my great grandmother and grandmother telling me stories of what happened to the City of Sheffield after the battle of the Somme in World War I. My maternal great uncle was a member of the Sheffield City Battalion (12th Battalion) York Regiment 94th Brigade, 31 Division and died at the Somme. I have his regimental patch with the white rose on it. I grabbed this book “Covenant with Death” by John Harris because it was a historical novel about the Sheffield City Battalion. The book was first published in 1961 and has been reprinted several times since then. The audio book I read was released on September 4, 2014.

The book is a novel about Mark Fenner, a reporter from the Sheffield newspaper, some of his friends from work and other men of the city of Sheffield. The first half of the book is about signing up with great glee and anticipation when War was declared in 1914. Then the waiting to be called, while life went on normally, at last call came, the training, and finally the issuing of summer uniforms and being sent to defend the Suez Canal. Finally they are sent to Senne, France in April 1916. The story continues with the daily routine of the men who by now we have gotten to know well. The last half of the book deals with the battle of the Somme. The book shows us with unbearable actuality what happened to the Sheffield City battalion on that horrible day. In the Somme offensive they were on the extreme left of the 15 mile British front. At 7:20 a.m. they moved into No Man’s Land at 7:30 a.m. bombardment stopped and four waves of the battalion rose and advanced into a devastating hail of machine gun and artillery fire. After 10 minutes all of the 1131 officers of men of the battalion were dead. In the story our hero Mark Fenner is the only one alive. But in the real battle only Corporal Outram, a Signaler was the only one left alive. This was repeated up and down the line and at the end of the ten minutes over 70,000 British was dead. This was the deadliest ten minutes in the history of the British Army; at the end of the battle one million men were dead. The battle of the Somme was the costliest battle in British history. The minute by minute description as told by Fenner is gripping. It puts you right into the battle with him. There is a big difference in reading a story from a personal viewpoint of the battle of the Somme than the history book description.

My great grandmother told me that most of the young men of Sheffield died in that battle and it took a long time for the city to recover. Every house was in mourning. The book gave us the contrast between the years of preparation and the moment of destruction of a single generation of a cities’ population on 1 July 1916. If you can picture this scene in many towns and cities throughout England and the British Empire with all their young men dead or wounded you will then understand why they changed the rules and never again allow regiments of men from the same city.

This is a great book that personalized the Great War. I am sure there are many people that would not be able to read this book. But if you are able, you will learn in great detail what it was like to be an ordinary soldier in the Great War. Mike Rogers did an excellent job narrating the book.

The Somme

If you could sum up Covenant with Death in three words, what would they be?

Harrowing, precise and excellent.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Covenant with Death?

The description of the attack that July 1 morning is so well written - Harris does a great job of describing the chaos of that terrible day.

Have you listened to any of Mike Rogers’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First listen - Rogers was outstanding.

Any additional comments?

Kudos all around!

You won’t regret listening!

This novel is for all history enthusiasts. Although this book is a body of WWI historical fiction, it superbly describes the psychology of what it was like for all those who served in the British Army from beginning to the Battle of the Somme.

Pretty much dull up until the last two hours or so

Although this book came highly recommended I struggled to finish it. Hopefully I can return it and receive my credit back.

Wowsa!

What a book! I wish I would have known the title years ago. Wow! Wowsa!

Factual entertainment

What made the experience of listening to Covenant with Death the most enjoyable?

The fact that although fiction it is based on truth. One can clearly picture the misguided enthusiasm of the Pals battalions as they rushed to their doom.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Covenant with Death?

Without doubt the morning they went over the top.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The pre enlistment medical, when men lied about their age, their occupations and their health, simply to make sure that they got into the war.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely.

Any additional comments?

Although written many years ago, it has lost none of its freshness. One to listen to again and again.

Great story

I first read this book over thirty years ago and still have a copy. Also have it on e-reader and now on this format.
For my money it is the best war novel ever written and I would love to see it as a TV series as well.

Moving

The first memoir I have read from ww1 and it. Makes you want to weep. 778 men reduced to 78 men and not one officer in 10 minutes. Well worth a listen.

If you liked Birdsong, this is for you

Both well written and read, this book will never go out of date. In this centennial year it is a timely reminder of what we owe to the characters in this remarkable book. Definitely worth a read.

Stunning

Would you consider the audio edition of Covenant with Death to be better than the print version?

So moving, so well read . I felt the soldiers initial gung ho spirit, I felt their final feelings of loss. Brilliantly written

Who was your favorite character and why?

Eff , if you've been in the forces you've known an Eff!

Gripping, immersing, impactful.

Right from the beginning the characters become like acquaintances. While the outcome is inevitable the story in compelling throughout and I commend the narrator who really made this book for me. I've just finished it and quite honestly still fell quite shocked and moved. Will certainly listen again and again. This is a book that was recommended by the late, great, Christopher Hitchens, as a must read. I wholeheartedly agree.

Fantastic Book

As a current serving Soldier and a Yorkshire man I could easily relate to all the characters in the book! Wonderfully written and researched the characters resemble something similar to my “oppos” I work with some likeable, some annoying (but you have to put up with) and of course the Sgt Maj, who everyone despises but deep down respects and loves.
The narrator brings the story to life, beautiful regional accents are used and he immerses you into the story.
There are parts where you will laugh out loud and parts which wrench at your gut and make you stop to soak in the realities of war.
A must read for anyone who is serving, have loved ones who serve and a marvellous insight to the comradeship and horrors of war!
5 stars - a must read

Brilliant, moving and timeless

Outstanding book with great narration. This book transports you into the story feeling great love for fantastic characters such as Eff and Lockie. Very well written and brings the sheer horror of the Somme into light. 10/10 would recommend

Classic War story

Covenant with Death is, in my opinion, one of the all-time classic War stories, up there with All Quiet on the Western Front in bringing the First World War down to a personal level. I have read John Harris' novel two or three times and this recording by Mike Rogers does it full justice.

Colleagues from a newspaper in a Yorkshire city (not named but clearly Sheffield) are imbued with patriotism at the outbreak of war. As they train, face the inevitability of fighting and then arrive, eventually, on the Western Front, the scales gradually clear from their eyes as they realise that the only way this war will be over by Christmas is for them personally, by bullet, shell or bayonet.

It is a story of comradeship, naivety, duty and, above all, courage. Two years in the making, ten minutes on the destroying. That was the history of the Pals Battalions on the first day on the Somme, encapsulated in this book. Mike Rogers' laconic delivery suits the character of the protagonist, Mark Fenner, to a tee.

It is an epic sorry with an emotionally charged finale. Listen and remember.

A brilliant and thought provoking story.

Would you consider the audio edition of Covenant with Death to be better than the print version?

Yes

What was one of the most memorable moments of Covenant with Death?

Fenners realisation of Helens feelings for him.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I think sadness was my overiding feeling not joy.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Of men and heroes.