How Many Miles to Babylon

571 Words3 Pages
Brief Summary on How Many Miles To Babylon Set in Ireland and Flanders during World War I, How Many Miles to Babylon? is a story of friendship. Jennifer Johnston writes about two young men first divided by class, then divided by rank. Alexander Moore is the son of a wealthy Irish farmer, and Jerry Crowe is a peasant. The two bond over their love of swimming and horses, and their friendship blossoms until Alec’s mother reminds him of his position as a member of the upper class. Alec’s parents are a piece of work; whatever love they might have had for one another is long gone. His mother must get her way all the time, and his sickly father will speak up for a moment, then recede into the background. Jerry decides to enlist in the British army because his family could use the money, and Alec enlists at the same time because his mother insists that he must. Alec becomes a junior officer and soon learns that his friendship with Jerry is considered inappropriate by his superiors. Despite Major Glendinning’s insistence that he will make a man of Alec, the two continue their friendship in the trenches and still dream of running a horse farm together one day. First published in 1974, How Many Miles to Babylon? is very short but takes time to get moving. The first half of the book introduces readers to Alec and describes his strained relationship with his parents and his budding friendship with Jerry. The latter half of the novel takes place at the front in Flanders, where Jerry takes drastic action after receiving a letter from home and Alec struggles under the cold and oppressive Major Glendinning. How Many Miles to Babylon? is not a novel solely about the war. Even when Johnston describes the harsh conditions of the trenches, the constant shelling and the chilblains, readers will feel removed from the action. With World War I in the background, Johnston
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