Customer Reviews

La Guerre des Boutons

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The War of the Buttons is generally considered a book for children but the truth is that it is also a book for adults. Anyone who likes to remember what it was like to be young, free and get excited over the samllest thing should read this. The story is an allegory of war and makes very obvious how ridiculous human beings can be and how unnecessary wars are.

Beautifully written with incredible expressive slang worthy of every teenager.

Ever since I read it in my language's translation (Romanian), I longed for the original. Finally bought it in the children section of a french bookstore; Pergaud is a terrific writer and his charming french spices up the story-telling. I felt that the translations (both Romanian and English) lost a little of the rustic feeling.

I see that this print uses "francais facile", which I suppose means removing the flavorful patois and may be OK if it's for small children. However, if it's for you and you can, get the un-abridged version, you'll enjoy it so much more.

Two Irish groups of young boys are going to war, not for gold, or land, for pride. No booty is taken in this war just buttons.Who wins? How? It is a wonderful well written book.