Description:
Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it. Mason is an amazing writer.
Daniel Mason's THE WINTER SOLDIER is easily one of the best, most compelling, character-driven, historical, LITERARY novels I have read in a long time. It caught me up with its WWI story of young Viennese med student, Lucius, who enlists as a 'medical lieutenant' and is thrust into service as a doctor for the Austro-Hungarian Empire in a remote field hospital in the Carpathian mountains, where he falls in love with a mysterious nursing sister, Margarete.I read - and also loved - Mason's THE PIANO TUNER fifteen or more years ago, so expected this one to be good too. In fact I think it's even better. The ' winter soldier ' of the title is, firstly, one Jozsef Horvath, found beneath a pile of frozen bodies, barely alive and severely traumatized, unable to speak or move. Nursed back to the edge of normalcy by Lucius and Margarete, he suffers a grisly and brutal setback at the hands of a sadistic officer. Enough said; you have to read the atory. But the 'winter soldier' could be many others here too, especially Lucius himself, who is separated from Margarete in the heat of a battle with Russian Cossack cavalry, and then tried to find her for the next two years. He is also plagued by vivid nightmares and other symptoms of what we now call PTSD.The post-war part of the book, as Lucius goes back to search for Margarete, is reminiscent of The Oddysey, with his many adventures and dangerous encounters, but, even more so, of another more obscure, beautifully written novel I read a few years back, also about WWI and eastern Europe, Andrew Krivak's THE SOJOURN.I also was intrigued that Daniel Mason is a doctor, a practicing psychiatrist and professor of medicine, and I thought of other doctor-writers I have read and admired - Abraham Verghese (CUTTING FOR STONE), Ethan Canin (author of several fictional works and on faculty at the Iowa Writers Workshop), and, of course, the late Michael Crichton, who penned numerous bestsellers.I absolutely loved THE WINTER SOLDIER. Daniel Mason is an extraordinarily gifted and talented writer. My very highest recommendation.- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER
4.0 out of 5 stars Drama on the Eastern Front
Lucius is a neurological medical student in Vienna when WWI breaks out in 1914. He volunteers as a doctor in the Austro-Hungarian army. With little experience as a doctor, and with no experience in dealing with the type of traumatic injuries caused in war, he is nevertheless assigned to a remote medical outpost in the Carpathian Mountains on the Eastern front. It is, to say the least, a daunting task, with limited medical supplies, crumbling infrastructure, lice, and the daily influx of wounded men.His savior is Sister Margarete, who patiently shows him what needs to be done, including how to saw off legs and arms, tasks they must perform often. Over time, he begins to find he has feelings for Sister Margarete and their relationship becomes a significant part of the plot. They then become separated, and when the war finally ends, he must search for her.This is the plot of this well-researched, captivating novel by Daniel Mason. It works for several reasons. First is the setting. It takes place in central Europe--the Europe of Hungary and Austria and Poland—and takes place more than a hundred years ago. This is the kind of thing that contemporary Americans are not familiar with, and to be immersed in it is fascinating. Mr. Mason seemingly gets it right.The characters are well-drawn as well. Lucius is not just an average medical student, he is enthralled by medicine. Mr. Mason gives us a thorough overview of his studies, the practice of medicine at the time, his fellow students and professors, and in general, his way of life in this long-ago period. It may not sound as interesting as being in the battlefield of WWI, but it is, and again, Mr. Mason shows a thorough knowledge of his subject matter. The other characters are also well done.The Winter Soldier of the title turns out to be a soldier who is brought to their field hospital in a state of catatonia. Lucius finally has a patient with a neurological problem he can work with and is thrilled to take it upon himself to cure this man. His efforts do not end successfully, and Lucius is tormented by this.As mentioned, the novel is well-written and flows well, but if there is a flaw, it is that it starts to drag a bit after all of the main characters are separated. Lucius must return to Vienna, still under orders. He must deal with his family and their wishes for him, and other issues, such as his future, all the while feeling despair over his experience with the Winter Soldier. It takes an awful long time to begin his search for Margarete, and his search maybe goes on a little but too long, too.But it does end, and ends satisfactorily, but perhaps one might find oneself yearning for more of an emotional wallop. Nevertheless, a fine, thoughtful exercise.
5.0 out of 5 stars Memento Mori: A Superb Saga of WWI
Lucius Krelewski begins his medical training in Vienna, not so much to be a healer, as to continue his passion for the study of science. In the middle of his training, WWI begins. With patriotic fervor, he enlists in the Austrian medical corps. Having barely touched any patients during his training, Lucius is sent to a remote medical outpost in the Carpathian Mountains. Here he learns both the art and craft of medicine, the tenderness of love and the barbarity of war. He encounters and is intrigued by what is now called PTSD which plagues so many of his patients. Post war, Lucius too struggles with nightmares.Mason writes a filigree of prose that borders on poetry. The reader is firmly in place in the beauty of the setting and the emotional depth of the characters. Battle scenarios are frightening in their ferocity. The anguish of Lucius and his patients is palpable. In the end, he goes on a personal odyssey to regain his love, his life and his soul. As in his novel, The Piano Tuner, Mason proves to be a master wordsmith. He creates a very human story that resonates long after the last page.
The best I have read this year
This wouldn't be a book I would have immediately picked up but I am really glad I did. This is the best book I have read this year.The story is very simple, boy meets girl, boy and girl part and then ....... I don't think finds girl would be quite right but perhaps both find redemption and themselves. So far so straight forward but the background of fin de siècle Vienna prior to the outbreak of World War 1, a hospital clearing station, a part of the first war I knew very little about just shines out of the book and makes me want to visit the areas mentioned. The last time a book did that was Perfume. Background then is superb, characters are believable and well drawn (I especially liked the Mother of the hero Lucious) and apart from possibly one plot twist too many it all rolls along very well.What elevates it from good to great is the writing. The descriptive passages reminded me of Cider With Rosie and the way he writes about the fecundity of land once scarred by war and now returning to nature and productivity was not only beautiful but also an element of the plot. It echoed the journey of Lucious as he too had to return to a productive life, even though echoes of the past would remain. Just as trenches, bodies and discarded equipment remain in the land from the war.On completing Winter Soldier I did two things I seldom do. First I started reading it again, slower this time to draw out the real beauty of the writing and to savour the characters. Second I went on to Bolo and ordered every other book this author has written. The first arrived yesterday so well done Bolo for quick delivery.Finally and hopefully I want to know more about Lucious. I want to know what happens next, how he survives the 20's and 30's and where. This is too good a character to let slip.
Well Written and Addictive
I very much enjoyed this book. Excellent writing, in-depth characters, authentic action and a very human story. Highly recommend.
The coldness and warmth of the human soul
I’d almost begun to think that novels of this quality were no longer being written. “The Winter Soldier” is a story, time and place to lose yourself in, elegantly written and utterly compelling, without resorting to any attempt to show off the author’s cleverness or manipulate the reader.The setting is slightly unusual for a 1st World War novel written in English, as it focusses on the Austro-Hungarian empire in its last throes, rather than the more typical setting of the Western front. Of course, many of the places mentioned have become household names in recent weeks, adding a particular poignancy to the story. Will humankind never learn?The writing is grown-up, brutality is described but not lingered on unecessarily. There is much psychological depth as the main character experiences guilt, regret, yearning and the development of self-knowledge. Like his medical student protagonist, the author clearly has “an unusual aptitude for the perception of things beneath the skin.” The sense of place is perfect, from the villages in the mountains of Galicia, to the opulence of Imperial Vienna, to the medicine faculties of early 20th century universities.The characters come alive on the pages: the resourceful, bossy, rifle-wielding nurse Margarete and the student Lucius - from a wealthy family, but an eternal misfit, whose brilliant yet conflicted mind is often at odds with his actions.I read the Kindle version of the book, which I can recommend as there were plenty of unfamiliar words that needed looking up. Unfortunately the map isn’t clear on Kindle, but it’s not too much trouble to do a little extra research on the history and geography of this area of Central Europe with its ever-changing boundaries.
O soldado de nosso inverno.
Uma das grandes obras de Daniel Mason.Pungente e com uma realidade cênica apaixonante.
Excellent
Daniel Mason's The Winter Soldier is a great novel, enjoyable at different levels of profundity. It is a cracking yarn; it is a portrait of the moribund Habsburg Empire; and it seems to be making a point about how the individual is at the mercy of great events like war. In this sense perhaps it is a comment on Kafka and the helplessness of individual volition. It is the best novel which I have read for years.
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The Winter Soldier
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Visit the Back Bay Books Store
The Winter Soldier
BHD1095
Quantity:
Order today to get by
Free delivery on orders over BHD 20
Imported From: United States
At bolo.bh, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.
We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.bh is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.
Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
bolo.bh operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of Bahrain. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in Bahrain are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it. Mason is an amazing writer.
Daniel Mason's THE WINTER SOLDIER is easily one of the best, most compelling, character-driven, historical, LITERARY novels I have read in a long time. It caught me up with its WWI story of young Viennese med student, Lucius, who enlists as a 'medical lieutenant' and is thrust into service as a doctor for the Austro-Hungarian Empire in a remote field hospital in the Carpathian mountains, where he falls in love with a mysterious nursing sister, Margarete.I read - and also loved - Mason's THE PIANO TUNER fifteen or more years ago, so expected this one to be good too. In fact I think it's even better. The ' winter soldier ' of the title is, firstly, one Jozsef Horvath, found beneath a pile of frozen bodies, barely alive and severely traumatized, unable to speak or move. Nursed back to the edge of normalcy by Lucius and Margarete, he suffers a grisly and brutal setback at the hands of a sadistic officer. Enough said; you have to read the atory. But the 'winter soldier' could be many others here too, especially Lucius himself, who is separated from Margarete in the heat of a battle with Russian Cossack cavalry, and then tried to find her for the next two years. He is also plagued by vivid nightmares and other symptoms of what we now call PTSD.The post-war part of the book, as Lucius goes back to search for Margarete, is reminiscent of The Oddysey, with his many adventures and dangerous encounters, but, even more so, of another more obscure, beautifully written novel I read a few years back, also about WWI and eastern Europe, Andrew Krivak's THE SOJOURN.I also was intrigued that Daniel Mason is a doctor, a practicing psychiatrist and professor of medicine, and I thought of other doctor-writers I have read and admired - Abraham Verghese (CUTTING FOR STONE), Ethan Canin (author of several fictional works and on faculty at the Iowa Writers Workshop), and, of course, the late Michael Crichton, who penned numerous bestsellers.I absolutely loved THE WINTER SOLDIER. Daniel Mason is an extraordinarily gifted and talented writer. My very highest recommendation.- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER
4.0 out of 5 stars Drama on the Eastern Front
Lucius is a neurological medical student in Vienna when WWI breaks out in 1914. He volunteers as a doctor in the Austro-Hungarian army. With little experience as a doctor, and with no experience in dealing with the type of traumatic injuries caused in war, he is nevertheless assigned to a remote medical outpost in the Carpathian Mountains on the Eastern front. It is, to say the least, a daunting task, with limited medical supplies, crumbling infrastructure, lice, and the daily influx of wounded men.His savior is Sister Margarete, who patiently shows him what needs to be done, including how to saw off legs and arms, tasks they must perform often. Over time, he begins to find he has feelings for Sister Margarete and their relationship becomes a significant part of the plot. They then become separated, and when the war finally ends, he must search for her.This is the plot of this well-researched, captivating novel by Daniel Mason. It works for several reasons. First is the setting. It takes place in central Europe--the Europe of Hungary and Austria and Poland—and takes place more than a hundred years ago. This is the kind of thing that contemporary Americans are not familiar with, and to be immersed in it is fascinating. Mr. Mason seemingly gets it right.The characters are well-drawn as well. Lucius is not just an average medical student, he is enthralled by medicine. Mr. Mason gives us a thorough overview of his studies, the practice of medicine at the time, his fellow students and professors, and in general, his way of life in this long-ago period. It may not sound as interesting as being in the battlefield of WWI, but it is, and again, Mr. Mason shows a thorough knowledge of his subject matter. The other characters are also well done.The Winter Soldier of the title turns out to be a soldier who is brought to their field hospital in a state of catatonia. Lucius finally has a patient with a neurological problem he can work with and is thrilled to take it upon himself to cure this man. His efforts do not end successfully, and Lucius is tormented by this.As mentioned, the novel is well-written and flows well, but if there is a flaw, it is that it starts to drag a bit after all of the main characters are separated. Lucius must return to Vienna, still under orders. He must deal with his family and their wishes for him, and other issues, such as his future, all the while feeling despair over his experience with the Winter Soldier. It takes an awful long time to begin his search for Margarete, and his search maybe goes on a little but too long, too.But it does end, and ends satisfactorily, but perhaps one might find oneself yearning for more of an emotional wallop. Nevertheless, a fine, thoughtful exercise.
5.0 out of 5 stars Memento Mori: A Superb Saga of WWI
Lucius Krelewski begins his medical training in Vienna, not so much to be a healer, as to continue his passion for the study of science. In the middle of his training, WWI begins. With patriotic fervor, he enlists in the Austrian medical corps. Having barely touched any patients during his training, Lucius is sent to a remote medical outpost in the Carpathian Mountains. Here he learns both the art and craft of medicine, the tenderness of love and the barbarity of war. He encounters and is intrigued by what is now called PTSD which plagues so many of his patients. Post war, Lucius too struggles with nightmares.Mason writes a filigree of prose that borders on poetry. The reader is firmly in place in the beauty of the setting and the emotional depth of the characters. Battle scenarios are frightening in their ferocity. The anguish of Lucius and his patients is palpable. In the end, he goes on a personal odyssey to regain his love, his life and his soul. As in his novel, The Piano Tuner, Mason proves to be a master wordsmith. He creates a very human story that resonates long after the last page.
The best I have read this year
This wouldn't be a book I would have immediately picked up but I am really glad I did. This is the best book I have read this year.The story is very simple, boy meets girl, boy and girl part and then ....... I don't think finds girl would be quite right but perhaps both find redemption and themselves. So far so straight forward but the background of fin de siècle Vienna prior to the outbreak of World War 1, a hospital clearing station, a part of the first war I knew very little about just shines out of the book and makes me want to visit the areas mentioned. The last time a book did that was Perfume. Background then is superb, characters are believable and well drawn (I especially liked the Mother of the hero Lucious) and apart from possibly one plot twist too many it all rolls along very well.What elevates it from good to great is the writing. The descriptive passages reminded me of Cider With Rosie and the way he writes about the fecundity of land once scarred by war and now returning to nature and productivity was not only beautiful but also an element of the plot. It echoed the journey of Lucious as he too had to return to a productive life, even though echoes of the past would remain. Just as trenches, bodies and discarded equipment remain in the land from the war.On completing Winter Soldier I did two things I seldom do. First I started reading it again, slower this time to draw out the real beauty of the writing and to savour the characters. Second I went on to Bolo and ordered every other book this author has written. The first arrived yesterday so well done Bolo for quick delivery.Finally and hopefully I want to know more about Lucious. I want to know what happens next, how he survives the 20's and 30's and where. This is too good a character to let slip.
Well Written and Addictive
I very much enjoyed this book. Excellent writing, in-depth characters, authentic action and a very human story. Highly recommend.
The coldness and warmth of the human soul
I’d almost begun to think that novels of this quality were no longer being written. “The Winter Soldier” is a story, time and place to lose yourself in, elegantly written and utterly compelling, without resorting to any attempt to show off the author’s cleverness or manipulate the reader.The setting is slightly unusual for a 1st World War novel written in English, as it focusses on the Austro-Hungarian empire in its last throes, rather than the more typical setting of the Western front. Of course, many of the places mentioned have become household names in recent weeks, adding a particular poignancy to the story. Will humankind never learn?The writing is grown-up, brutality is described but not lingered on unecessarily. There is much psychological depth as the main character experiences guilt, regret, yearning and the development of self-knowledge. Like his medical student protagonist, the author clearly has “an unusual aptitude for the perception of things beneath the skin.” The sense of place is perfect, from the villages in the mountains of Galicia, to the opulence of Imperial Vienna, to the medicine faculties of early 20th century universities.The characters come alive on the pages: the resourceful, bossy, rifle-wielding nurse Margarete and the student Lucius - from a wealthy family, but an eternal misfit, whose brilliant yet conflicted mind is often at odds with his actions.I read the Kindle version of the book, which I can recommend as there were plenty of unfamiliar words that needed looking up. Unfortunately the map isn’t clear on Kindle, but it’s not too much trouble to do a little extra research on the history and geography of this area of Central Europe with its ever-changing boundaries.
O soldado de nosso inverno.
Uma das grandes obras de Daniel Mason.Pungente e com uma realidade cênica apaixonante.
Excellent
Daniel Mason's The Winter Soldier is a great novel, enjoyable at different levels of profundity. It is a cracking yarn; it is a portrait of the moribund Habsburg Empire; and it seems to be making a point about how the individual is at the mercy of great events like war. In this sense perhaps it is a comment on Kafka and the helplessness of individual volition. It is the best novel which I have read for years.
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “World War I”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.bh/products/U0316477591