By guest reviewer, Peter Geyer
Arnold Zweig's Education Before Verdun is a thoroughly modern book. It is a story about corruption in the highest ranks of the military. A noble witness to a crime is being hunted by the criminals. A vengeful brother is seeking retribution for his brother's death. There are only a couple of things separating Education Before Verdun from any number of John Grisham legal thrillers. First, this book was written in 1935, and second, the army in question is the German Army in World War I.
The story follows the tale of Sergeant Christoph Kroysing, a shining star rising through the ranks. Until, that is, he discovers that his commanding officers are stealing from their men. As a man of his upstanding moral character would do, he reports this discovery to a court martial. Unfortunately, before he can testify in person, he is transferred to the front where he is soon killed by a French artillery shell. However, just before his death, he enlists the help of Werner Bertin, a bookish private in a labor battalion. Bertin, in turn, draws into the investigation Kroysing's estranged elder brother, Lieutenant Eberhard Kroysing. These two characters engage in a war of wills with the criminal officers, all while simultaneously trying to stay alive in the vast waste of the battle of Verdun.
I have to admit, I was drawn into Education Before Verdun from the very first page. Zweig's writing is crisp and fast paced. His characters all have a depth that makes them believable, and very human flaws that make them familiar even to the modern reader. As I was reading this book, my mind's eye could see the action developing almost as if it were a movie, complete with sweeping battle scenes and fascinating character development. In fact, I found it hard to believe that in the 65 years since it was written, Education Before Verdun was never actually made into a movie. That is, I could hardly believe it until I reached the end. I won't give it away here, but the novel's end was disappointing to say the very least. The reader gets the distinct impression that Zweig just got tired of writing after 400+ pages. After such thorough and effective plot and character development, the end is extremely premature. It leaves you with a feeling of emptiness, not because you are faced with the ultimate meaninglessness of war, but because you have invested a lot of time and emotion in the story, and it leaves you no sense of closure or fulfillment.
Do yourself a favor. By all means, read this book. It is a wonderful piece of literature, and a great look into the inner workings of the German Army in World War I. Just don't bother reading the last 50 pages. If you make up the ending of your own choosing, you will feel much more satisfaction.
