Early in the Summer of 1970 [Hardcover]

A. B. Yehoshua (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Hebrew (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 165 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385025904
• ISBN-13: 978-0385025904
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,418,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3.0 out of 5 stars The Reality of War, April 14, 2001

By 

Rachel (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Early in the Summer of 1970 (Hardcover)

In reading this book for a class on the history of Israel, I realized how great a toll the wars of Israel have taken on its citizens. The survival of Israel is of the utmost importance, but at what cost? So many have died, and not only do we mourn their deaths, but also grieve for those family members they have left behind. Early in the Summer of 1970 is comprised of three short stories: Early in the Summer of 1970, Missle Base 612, and The Last Commander. The first short story is about a Bible teacher in Israel who's son returns from the United States with a new wife and child, as he has been drafted into the Israeli army. The son, his wife and child, all set off for Jerusalem. One day at school, he is told his son has been killed. This moment, when he is informed of his son's sudden death, is the centerpiece of the story. The ending of the story and repercussions will make you think twice about how it feels to have a child sent off to war. The second story, Missle Base 612, is about a man who is exempt from guard duty since he has become a lecturer for the army. He lives in Tel Aviv with his wife (to whom he soon plans to divorce) and child, and he considers his on home a battlefront. He is sent to Missle Base 612 in the Sinai to give a lecture, but the soldiers do not seem interested in his idealogical thoughts, but prefer a movie instead. He leaves without giving the lecture, to come home and find that while those men in the Sinai are confronting war, so is he on the home-front. The last short story, The Last Commander, is about a unit which is sent away on "some business," and is quickly assigned a rather unqualified commander, Yagnon. He takes the unit out to a furrow, and stays there for seven days, remaining immobile and constantly sleeping, and telling his unit to do the same. Suddenly, a new company commander arrives to whip them into shape, and works them to the bone. They despise him for his demanding work ethics, and find themselves wishing that Yagnon would be their leader once again. Sure enough, the company commander leaves after only seven days, and the men lazily return to the furrow which they had previously disdained, but now appreciated. The theme of these three short stories is the value of human life in the context of war. To what extent should mankind be sacrificed for the sake of land? All at once, young people are forced to leave their naive adolescence behind and enter the cruel, cold world of war. A.B. Yehoshua, in Early in the Summer of 1970, seeks to bring to life the true realities and sadness of war.