The Wasted Generation

"The Wasted Generation" by Owen Johnson is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set against the backdrop of World War I and follows the introspective journey of David Littledale, an American soldier in the French Foreign Legion who grapples with his identity and purpose amidst the chaos of war. The novel explores themes of nationalism, personal introspection, and the complexities of love and loss. At the start of the book, David reflects on his thirty years of life on his birthday, filled with memories of his past while recovering in a peaceful Savoy courtyard surrounded by comrades. The sounds of distant warfare contrast sharply with the simplicity of his immediate surroundings as he ponders his motivations for fighting in the war. His thoughts delve into feelings of alienation and introspection, highlighting a deep desire for meaning and belonging as he prepares to potentially return to the front lines. David's narrative reveals an evolving understanding of himself and those around him, marked by his observations of camaraderie among soldiers and wistful remembering of life before the war, setting the stage for character development and existential exploration throughout the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Owen McMahon Johnson was an American writer best remembered for his stories and novels cataloguing the educational and personal growth of the fictional character Dink Stover. The "Lawrenceville Stories", set in the well-known prep school, invite comparison with Kipling's Stalky & Co. A 1950 film, The Happy Years, and a 1987 PBS mini-series, The Lawrenceville Stories, were based on them.