The First Casualty

by Ben Elton and Abraham Ascher

Book Overview

Flanders, June 1917: a British officer and celebrated poet, is shot dead, killed not by German fire, but while recuperating from shell shock well behind the lines. A young English soldier is arrested and, although he protests his innocence, charged with his murder.

Douglas Kingsley is a conscientious objector, previously a detective with the London police, now imprisoned for his beliefs. He is released and sent to France in order to secure...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0552771309
• ISBN13: 9780552771306
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Black Swan Books, Limited
• Length: 419 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.0" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Alternate political characters enhance rather than overwhelm WW1 crime story

This book deserves closer analysis than my hazy recollections of a few months ago, but life being what it is this will have to do. Elton creates perhaps the least sympathetic character possible as his war hero: a conscientious objector. I don't know that this book could have even been published closer to the time of its WW1 setting (well, I'm sure it couldn't have given some of the sexual content taken for granted less than a century on), but community attitudes have altered pretty radically since then. That being said, Elton's point is well made that while you'd never know it by reading a thousand other fictional books in this setting, there were conscientious objectors in the Great War, not to mention communists, homosexuals, Irish nationalists and feminists. Many stories set in wars are well researched, but it is refreshing to have a wider, more representative population. While he does have something of a barrow to push, Elton gives a deal more respect and time to conventional stiff-upper-lip conservatives in this book than more traditional war story writers give to his non-mainstream protagonists. Perhaps it would have been better if Elton had have allowed us an equally articulate pro-war character, the presentation of Kingsley's case is so strong as to border on a straw man attack, but, granted, we have been gorged with the pro-war argument from so much media for so long, in the scheme of things this is hardly going to tip the balance. In a similar spirit I'll grant him some clunky expository dialogue as Tommies summarise contrasting views on the reasons for the war: this conversation feels retrofitted, but it's interesting to even hear some alternative perspectives. Elton's always had wit, but he's managed to surprise me on occasion by the quality of his writing (such as `Popcorn'). It's not merely a comedian exploring an alternative source of revenue; he can actually stand up creditably against many dedicated novelists. `The First Casualty' has a workable crime plot, historically viable settings, engaging characters and some thought provoking themes. While Elton started, for example, like David Baddiel, I don't know that the latter will similarly be able to reach a point where he can write a whole book without a few chapters of observational comedy (mostly about penises) to get us through. It's actually a testament to Elton's craft that I can write such a positive review about an author who probably passionately holds some views that I'd disagree with. Moreover I suspect we could still have a conversation. Thus while it teeters on the edge now and then, the book doesn't descend into a mere propaganda pamphlet. Elton includes some interesting opinion, but never at the cost of writing a cohesive, engaging story. Kingsley's conscientious objection, for example, is not merely a veiled political statement from the author: it's a vital aspect of this character's at times irritatingly uncompromising character, and crucial to the appeali

Death, war and murder

This is a murder mystery in which the central character (a London police inspector) is sent to prison for his refusal to participate in what he sees as an immoral war. In order to save his own life he agrees to investigate the murder of a politically connected war hero-poet as a generation British, French and German men is being killed on the battlefields of Europe. The book is not a great mystery novel but, it is a well written, exciting story and a wonderful illustration of why, despite all logic, men will go to war and face almost certain death. Also, it explores the question of what differentiates murder from war or from execution-is it a matter of the scale or or is it just a matter of law and politics? I knew nothing about Mr. Elton nor his previous books but, having been given this book as a bithday present by my Australian daughter-in-law, I felt obligated to give it a try. Being a slow reader, it took 14 hours to finish (with time out for meals)-a really gripping story. He has hooked me and I am eager to read more of his writing.

Scarcely Ben Elton at all

Being an avid reader of Ben Elton's other works, I scarcely noticed anything typically 'Eltonian' about this book, which I previously would've thought might be a mark against it, but not so. The story reads quickly and is not particularly deep or heavy, which might not find favour amongst veterans of World War epics. Nevertheless, in the general absence of humour or satire, Elton's ability as a master storyteller shines. Without giving too much away, the book concerns a police detective commissioned to investigate the murder of a soldier on the front lines of the First World War. The thought provoking dichotomy of a single man's death contrasted with the death of millions notwithstanding, this book provides just the right mix of detective story, characterisation and the horrific scenic descriptions of the war to keep you engrossed until the very end. It rolls along smoothly, never getting boring or repetitive. The characters are lively, the smattering of war anecdotes believable and the logic adequately puzzling. Having said that, it remains a touchingly heartfelt story of a rational man finding himself mixed up in a war out of all proportion to anything he could've imagined. Even if you mainly read Elton for his humour, you'll love the hero and love this book.

Serious Stuff

Lets start simple. If your looking for a comedy, with toilet gags and a touch of Blackadder series four then (aside from the episode Goodbyeee) then this is not for you. However, if your looking for a good story, with the standard bite which Ben Elton has always had when it comes down to poilitcal issues, past or present, and a read which makes you really wonder about how things like WW2 could happen, after the lessons surely learnt from WW1, then you might well enjoy this. I was suprised! I was expecting something with humour, and unless its exceptionally well hidden, discovered none. What i did find was that i was drawn into the book. The parallels i could draw with the RAF chap who has recently been jailed for refusing to go across to Iraq meant that this book is bang on the nail for current events. What it does really is ask the reader how far will you go with what your told is right, even though inside you, you know its not, and when comes the time where your own values become more important to you than the morals imposed upon you by a collective. When will you stand up and be counted for what you believe in? I cant help but think that the last episode of Black Adder goes Forth was playing on Bens mind for all this time. The explanation of how they came from the one state of affairs where there was no war, to the state of affairs where there was one, and then the poignant last scenes of going over the top of the trenches, and now the appearance of this book, seem to indicate this is something thats been with him a good while. So i liked it, wasn't what i expected, but that wasnt a bad thing. T'was read in about 3 straight nights. Certainly i would recommend it, but for those only familiar with Stark and Gridlocked, your in for a shock.

What do we owe our country?

I'd like to give this book 5 stars, but the story was just too tidy. I love Elton - he writes compulsively readable, thought-provoking stories. The idea of war as a diversionary strategy to avert class struggle isn't new, of course. Livy did it long ago, and Elton stretches credulity a little too far to get the point across. But interesting questions are raised, and after reading this book I definately want to learn more about the first world war. Ben Elton is a smart guy, and his heart is in the right place.