From Here to Eternity (Penguin Modern Classics)

From Here to Eternity has long been one of my favorite movies. I cannot resist watching its reruns on television. Recently, I decided to read book, the 802-page hardcover volume. Everyone knows that a book is always better than the movie, and that was the case here – but not by much. The casting for the movie was superb. You cannot read about Pvt. Prewitt in the book without seeing in your mind’s eye Montgomery Clift; Sgt. Warden, without seeing Burt Lancaster; or Maggio, without seeing Frank Sinatra. The book reminds me of a string of short stories, mainly focusing on Prewitt and Warden during their assignment at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii shortly before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Prewitt is an outstanding welterweight (147 lbs) prizefighter who refuses to fight for the company’s boxing team. Also, he is a gifted bugler who was once assigned to duty at Arlington National Cemetery. Prewitt’s company commander, who is also in charge of the boxing team, orders the NCOs to give Prewitt “the treatment”, i.e., all of the tough, dirty jobs, until he agrees to join the boxing team. Warden, the company’s first sergeant, sympathizes with Prewitt but has no authority to override the orders of the company commander. Most of the stories in the book were covered in the movie, with the exception of the one involving a group of homosexuals in the Honolulu area, and one involves a suicide by a member of the company boxing team. A few details of some of the other stories were revised slightly in the movie, but not to any significant level. The author’s writing style is interesting in many respects. For example, there is extensive discussion about psychology, philosophy, religion, and morality with respect to the persons and events that are the subject of the book. These comments give added meaning to the events in the book – and also account for its substantial length. On the other hand, such intellectual discussion is totally out of character coming from persons who had minimal education, and virtually no contact with liberal arts. The author seems to be cognizant of this disconnect when he mentions that a particular character or characters “read a lot of books.” There is even one character that mysteriously shows up as a prisoner in the stockade, apparently for the purpose of abetting this type of discussion. He disappears from the book by walking out of the stockade in a successful escape. His purpose in the narrative appears to have been completed when he painted the philosophical setting of life in the stockade. The author frequently uses poor grammar and spelling in an apparent effort to present a realistic speech pattern of the day-to-day language of the minimally educated soldiers. In addition to being inconsistent with the high level discussions of psychology and philosophy, it is a technique that doesn’t work well. All told, it is an excellent book that captures the atmosphere of an overseas military post. You feel like you were there.

I wish today 's fiction writer's would take time and read this book. James Jones knew human nature so well and knew how to put it on a page. didn't waste my time with endless and needless name dropping of products or songs todays fiction writer's are so fond of throwing out every other page . His characters are real they're gritty not so handsome or brave or free spirited just plain enlisted men surviving Army life between paydays . It makes you think gives insight to character and it's reality not the modern slick fairy tale of how we wish life would be with heroes and beautiful women that in the end everything turns out just fine . these guys die like in real life . Great book printed in 1951.

Since the time I was a little girl I would go everywhere with my Dad. I would yell out the door, Daddy where are you going and can I go too?He even wrote a song about his little girl. This poem is included in this book. The funniest poem is about the neck twisting poem about his baby sister. Too funny! The most beautiful poem he wrote about his wife isn't included in this book, but it provides insight into the love two people shared as husband and wife. Like his Mother before him they penned poety that was life changing for the family. My Dad, Merrill is my hero! and I am forever his little girl.

Great characters, great setting, great plot. The peacetime army in Hawaii on the verge of Pearl Harbor. My favorite modern novel. For the current generation a great historical read. For those that don't have time or inclination at least see the movie (Oscar) from 1951 with Frank Sinatra (Oscar), Montgomery Clift, Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr.

Like many people, I often read the book if I enjoy the movie. Vice versa, if I enjoy the movie, I often read the book. As a fan of classic movies, I enjoyed the movie set right before WWII. The movie followed the book closely. It's a bit longer than needed, but that sort of writing was popular in the '40s & '50s.Private Prewitt is an exceptionally good boxer. However, his days in the ring are ended after he seriously injures a friend during a sparring match. He's transferred to a rifle company and wants to prove his merit seeing how he's been a bugler most of his time in the service. When the company commander (CO) insists on Prewitt joining the company boxing team, Prewitt refuses on moral grounds.Thus begins an endless period of physical and mental 'treatment' (what we call hazing today). The CO is determined to have his way, and puts things in the hands of Sergeant Warden, a career soldier like Prewitt, only with actual combat experience versus most others. Prewitt makes friends with most of the platoon soldiers, minus those on the boxing team who bully him. He meets a woman, a working woman, he falls in love with, but before things fall into place, December 7, 1941 befalls them and their lives are forever changed.As a veteran, I appreciated the finer details of being in a rifle platoon. The author provides accurate details of the loneliness one can have, being so far from home. The harassment endured by Prewitt was still there while I served, and there was little anyone could do about except play it out. There are uncomfortable scenes of homosexuality between men I found surprising in the book, and not because I have anything personal against a person's preference, because I don't. I simply didn't expect it because that wasn't mentioned in the movie. There are the long periods of the story that seem a bit boring and I think by today's standards it could've been written about 100 pages less. Unless you have all the time in the world, give yourself a couple of months to get through it. It drags on and I think got rated so well because it was one of the first of its kind, taking place right before December 7. It's too slow for me to ever read again, I think, but if you're a lover of classics, put it on your list.

Excellent book

perfect

For such a long book, the writing moves at a good pace while not skimping on observations. The subject of the book, Robert Prewiit (Prew), decides to transfer out of a bugle company because he's no longer head bugler. Despite having prodigious boxing abilities, he's determined not to box for his new company (to become a "jockstrap") despite knowing it would elevate his status, increase his income, and generally make life easier. The story details how his pride and obstinacy (or adherence to principles, if you prefer to take a more generous viewpoint) have repercussions in this young man's life. For example, a wonderfully detailed passage describes a visit to his girlfriend, and how she decides not to "shack up" with him after learning that he's basically been demoted. Prew leaves and gets drunk before returning to barracks.This book is a long and entertaining read. The characters are vivid and interesting, and the story pace is very engaging. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone whose interest is piqued in modern classics.

Found it a more complete book than "The Thin Red Line", better character development. It turned out to be a very interesting read!

I had read From Here to Eternity before when I was young, and loved it, but reading the full version was mind-blowing. It still stands up today, even though it was written 70 years ago, and really gets into the characters as very few novels do. Definitely top of my list of great novels.