Book Review: A Rumor of War

Book Review: A Rumor of War
By
Tony Manning
A Rumor of War is a griping eloquently written story telling of the trials and tribulations of a young Lieutenant Caputo and how his views changed with the course of the war. It demonstrates how morality is juxtaposed with duty and honor. It portrays how “ordinary” men become killers. The book concentrates on the units that Caputo served in, but also reflects that the enemy must be compelled to feel the same way and Caputo begins to realize there is little difference in man in war regardless of their nation of origin. Other books that come to mind that could be compared with this work include: The Red Badge of Courage, The Killer Angels and Ordinary Men. Though these books cover other wars they give the reader a sense of what the soldier must have felt. Ordinary Men goes one step further and helps to explain the process of soldiering and the art of killing, though it concentrates on a reserve unit, of aging veterans that are de...