The Return of the Soldier ~ Rebecca West

This very short novel is the story of an English soldier who is repatriated from the bloodlust of the French trenches during WWI because he has lost his short-term memory, presumably as a result of being ‘shell-shocked’ – the condition we now know as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Chris Baldry, handsome, personable and wealthy, is the soldier. His ‘madness’ took the form of returning his consciousness to the world he knew 15 years previously. Thus the army officials sent news of his illness to an old address instead of his current home, where his wife Kitty and cousin Jenny were only mildly concerned at not hearing from him for a fortnight.

Kitty’s careless snobbery is revealed when her housemaid announces the arrival of a woman who has news for them: condescending to speak to the stranger, Kitty reflects that her hair is ‘Last year’s fashion…but I fancy it’ll do for a person with that sort of address.’ The visitor, shabby and diffident in the affluent house, is Margaret Grey, bringing them the news that Chris is ill, not wounded but apparently confused because a War Office telegram and letter from Chris have been sent to an old address and he is begging to see Margaret, who reveals that she knew him 15 years previously. Kitty, scornful and certain the woman is trying somehow to get money from her, is rude and dismissive; Jenny however, senses the truth and is horrified by the insight into Kitty’s true nature.

When the story is confirmed and Chris is brought home, his loss of memory and complete lack of recognition of his wife, his alienation in the altered house, are excruciating to read. He does recognise Jenny, who of course he had known since childhood, and who senses the hopelessness of the situation for both disoriented husband and rejected wife. Chris is obsessed by only one thought-he must see Margaret. Kitty, brittle and suspicious with bewildered hurt, agrees to bring ‘that dowd’ to the house, noting bitterly that despite his amnesia, ‘He’s well enough to remember her all right’.

Thus Chris is reunited with Margaret, who had been the love of his life and a true kindred spirit. Far from being disillusioned by her age and the poverty wrought on her by sad circumstances, he is more in love with her than ever and they share the anguish of their parting over a petty quarrel all those years ago.

The story proceeds to unravel the true natures of all the characters involved, against the background of medical and psychological efforts to ‘cure’ Chris. Rather than war-induced amnesia, it gradually emerges that the cause may be more related to the social situation, including the death of Chris and Kitty’s infant son and Margaret’s life story.

On one level, this is a sadly familiar story of the effects of war; however, it seems to be a deeper examination of social mores and their imprisonment of individuals who defy the rules and want a different lifestyle. I was gripped from the start and read it in one night!

Author Rebecca West, born Cicily Isabel Fairfield in 1892, grew up with two sisters and their single mother, deserted by Cicily’s father at age 9. A hard struggle in those days, this background led her to be a feminist and Suffragette, and fierce political activist: she changed her name to Rebecca West to spare her family the social repercussions of her activism. She had a long affair with H.G. Wells, with whom she had a son.

I first became aware of her when, about to travel to Croatia, I read her massive history of Yugoslavia, ‘Black Lamb and Grey Falcon’, an amazingly comprehensive story of that country’s harsh past and dour culture.

HELEN