Guard of Honor

Rating:
Summary: Great Literature, But Not a Good Story Well Told
Review: A novel of intricate characterizations of a huge number of participants in a bureaucracy, Guard of Honor would probably appeal more to lovers of Great Literature than to lovers of a Good Story Well Told. It is a very long and detailed book. What plot there is involves attempts of some of the lead characters to avoid doing the morally-correct action. Few characters are likeable; few have much integrity. The author likes very long sentences; many paragraphs are absolutely incomprehensible. The ending was quite unsatisfactory to me. However, all those characters are distinctive and memorable - not a small achievement. And, the author certainly understands the dynamics of a bureaucracy. The book is enjoying a small revival due to a rave review in the American Scholar magazine.

Rating:
Summary: A viable candidate for the "Great American Novel"
Review: If a contemporary reader is looking for one novel that captures with unerring precision the nature of the military and society in World War II, look no further than "Guard of Honor." The setting is authentic, and the characters are drawn with abundant sympathy and an utter lack of remorse. The issues, the personalities, the key incident -- all reflect Cozzens' skill deep insight into human nature and the nature of military bureaucracies, the latter resulting from his service on the Air Corps staff during the war. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.

Rating:
Summary: Too much...WAY too much
Review: One reviewer called "Guard of Honor" a "Dickens of a novel", and it's easy to see what he was getting at: a big book, bustling with characters and situations, covering a time and place from many angles to make a detailed portrait...that's what Charles Dickens did best, and that's what Cozzens certainly INTENDS to do, but it simply does not come off. There is just too much fat here, too many long, long scenes that go nowhere and provide no particular insight, too many long, long conversations that all too obviously serve only to mouth the author's philosophy, too much anticipation for too little payoff. Buried far underneath all this is a good story, a great writing style, and a few good characters. Critic Noel Perrin's singular enthusiasm for this novel is touching, but this is NOT the great novel of World War 2. Leave that to Mr. Jones or Mr. Wouk.