War and Turpentine

War and Turpentine reconstructs the life of Urbain Martien through his grandson's interpretation of two notebooks given to him in 1981. Based on real wartime journals, the novel spans three generations of a Belgian family, centering on an artist-turned-soldier during World War I. The narrative moves between pre-war Belgium, where young Urbain learns fresco painting from his father in Ghent, to his experiences as a soldier in the Belgian Army during World War I. The story continues into his post-war life, examining how the trauma of battle shaped his later years and his development as a painter. Set against the backdrop of early 20th century Europe, the book weaves historical elements with personal memory, featuring detailed descriptions of Urbain's artistic process and military service. The grandson-narrator pieces together his grandfather's story decades after receiving the notebooks, creating a bridge between past and present. This multi-layered work explores themes of artistic creation, war's impact on the human spirit, and how memory shapes identity across generations. It raises questions about the nature of inheritance - both genetic and cultural - and the ways we preserve and interpret family history.

Readers describe War and Turpentine as a moving account of the author's grandfather, praising the rich details about art, war, and life in early 20th century Belgium. Many note the poetic quality of the writing and vivid descriptions of paintings and battlefield scenes. Likes: - Intimate portrayal of one man's life against historical backdrop - Seamless blend of biography, fiction, and art history - Powerful wartime sequences - High quality of the English translation Dislikes: - Slow pacing in middle section - Too much focus on painting techniques - Complex structure makes narrative hard to follow - Some found the grandfather's character distant Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (280+ ratings) "Like looking at an old photograph album while someone tells you a story," writes one Amazon reviewer. Another notes: "The writing is beautiful but the story meanders too much for my taste."

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque The first-person account of a German soldier in WWI depicts the same psychological and physical trials faced by Urbain Martien through the character of Paul Bäumer.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan The story of an Australian doctor in a Japanese POW camp interweaves love, art, and wartime experience in a multi-generational narrative structure similar to War and Turpentine.

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky The unfinished manuscript, discovered decades after the author's death, captures the same blend of personal experience and historical documentation found in Urbain's notebooks.

The Painter of Birds by João Paulo Borges Coelho The protagonist's dual identity as artist and survivor mirrors Urbain's life through a story of memory, war, and artistic creation.

The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West This WWI narrative examines the impact of war trauma on memory and identity across time periods, echoing the themes in War and Turpentine.

🎨 The book is based on actual diaries written by the author's grandfather, which Hertmans kept untouched for nearly 30 years before finally reading them. 🏛️ Ghent, where much of the book is set, was a major artistic center during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, known for its influential Flemish painting school. ⚔️ During WWI, Belgium's army was forced to retreat to a small strip of land behind the Yser River - the last 5% of Belgian territory not occupied by German forces. 📝 The title "War and Turpentine" references both the protagonist's military service and his artistic pursuits - turpentine being a crucial solvent used in oil painting. 🎯 The book received international acclaim, winning the AKO Literature Prize and being named one of The New York Times' 10 Best Books of 2016.