The novel reveals the horrors of war and the impact on two sets of lovers separated in the conflict. Riley and Nadine, a young couple in love, have an enduring bond even through they are separated by class. Riley enters war to prove he is a man and becomes the most complex, enduring character. Peter, Riley's commanding officer, and his wife, Julia, do a jagged dance between love, lust and estrangement. Because Julia's currency is her beauty and she is desperate for her husband's attention, she spends most of the novel preoccupied with her appearance. Rose, Peter's cousin, is a redemptive force, wanting the best for Peter and Julia. She shows tender compassion to Riley and the other soldiers she nurses. Her relationship with Nadine is particularly touching.
