Synopsis
Set in the Ardennes Forest on Christmas Eve 1944, Sergeant Will Knott and five other GIs are ordered close to the German lines to establish an observation post in an abandoned chateau. That is, until the Germans begin revealing their whereabouts and leaving signs of their presence: a scarecrow, equipment the squad had dropped on a retreat from a reconnaissance mission and, strangest of all, a small fir tree hung with fruit, candles, and cardboard stars. Suddenly, Knott and the others must unravel these mysteries, learning as they do about themselves, about one another, and about the "enemy," until A Midnight Clear reaches its unexpected climax, one of the most shattering in the literature of war.
Reviews
"William Wharton has distilled the essence of degradation, of the utter awfulness of battle, into a tense, poetic statement. In its power to surprise and to haunt us, it ranks among the best of our celebrated war stories. I'd put it on the same shelf with Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage, it has mythic quality. "
Chicago Tribune
"It is a fine book, sad and witty, even profound. "
San Francisco Chronicle
"There are surprisingly few 'classic' novels of World War II, A Midnight Clear joins the best. "
Eliot Fremont-Smith, The Village Voice
"It covers but one week in the lives of six men whose time on earth has been too short for them to know much beyond fright, carnal longings, and the prodding of intelligence... It is a modest inquiry into war, youth, and extinction. It is also remarkable."
Thomas R. Edwards, The New York Times
Reader Reviews
“Ten stars. This is a MUST READ book”, January 27, 2005
Reviewer: Peggy Vincent "author and reader" (Oakland, CA
A Midnight Clear is a stunning, poignant, passionate paean to the futility and tragedy of war. The setup is 6 very young, very bright US soldiers sent on a reconnaissance mission to a chateau deep within the Ardennes Forest in France in December 1944. Use of symbolism deepens the book's meaning: the men (read "boys") play chess and bridge (without cards) with deadly passion, one is called Mother because of his mother-hen neatnik qualities, another is called Father because he's a devout Catholic who left seminary cuz he didn't think he was good enough. Their leader is Wont (his name is William Knott, AKA Will Knot, AKA `will not,' thus: won't, usually shortened to Wont), a kid recently promoted to sergeant who hasn't had time to sew his stripes on yet.
So they're in this abandoned chateau in the middle of this isolated forest, burning furniture to try to keep warm, and the dialogue and situations are hilarious and horrible, but mostly hilarious... but this is a book about war, so you know bad stuff is going to happen. Reading the first part of the book, you feel kinda guilty laughing, cuz in the back of your mind, you're wondering which and how many of these kids are going to die.
Then they realize there are 6-8 Germans nearby, and their fear is palpable - until it becomes clear that the Germans are just as young and scared as they are, just as sick of war, and even more importantly, the Germans know they're about to lose the war, and they want to surrender.
The denouement, when it comes, occupies no more than perhaps one single page, maybe just a couple of paragraphs, and the rest of the book becomes a weird, tragic, very believable mythic, religious, mystery play/metaphor sort of thing with the kind of events and writing that keep you riveted to the last sentence.
Highest possible recommendation. I swear it'll eventually become a classic.
“LIVES UP TO EXPECTATIONS”, October 3, 2002
Reviewer: Vaughan (Beppu-Shi, Oita-Ken Japan)
"Vaughan! You have to read this book"
"What book?"
"Ohhh, its called A MIDNIGHT CLEAR... written by the same guy who is responsible for BIRDY!"
The next day I purchase it on AMAZON.
The following day the book comes.
That same day I finish it.
That day is today.
Let me say, that this book is an amazing piece of work. It’s a classic about World War II, but nothing really too in-depth which would really confuse the heck out of me. A simple plot, but a very unique one, that really does play on your emotional side. I kid you not, my heart was pumping so fast at times, and I just couldn't control myself from screaming into the pages! Ahh, a book sometimes does this for me - and this one did it for me.
A group of 5 soldiers, lead by WONT, really don't care about the war, and rather are discovering themselves through each other. They hope that the enemy isn't too near, and they hope that their daily lives can be as less stressful as possible. This all changes though when a group of German soldiers seem to be in a very playful mood, and start joking around with the Americans. Leaving messages here and there, which all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. But a piece goes missing at the end. Read it!
“19 Year Olds at War- Far from Home-Freezing and Scared”, January 13, 2002
Reviewer: S. Henkels (Devon, Pa United States)
A handful of young GI's are stuck in a snowy wilderness somewhere in northern France at the end of the Battle of the Bulge. Christmas time is approaching, and they are hoping and praying for salvation from this truly unpleasant situation. Perhaps holing up somewhere will keep them from freezing to death, and hopefully the enemy is nowhere near. This strategy backfires when they realize that Germans have found them. Even worse, some monstrous German tanks make a very alarming appearance. Possibly, the German soldiers are as scared and sick of this war as they are... Maybe there's even a way to communicate all this to the enemy, especially as the holiday gets nearer by the day. The rest is a story that should be among the classics, one that Mr. Wharton tells perfectly. Simply, it can't be beat, and the movie was just as good. Both underrated, little known gems.
“Chateau on the front lines”, October 10, 2001
Reviewer: Doug Anderson (Miami Beach, Florida United States
This group of soldiers attached to the elite intelligence outfit known as the A.S.T.P.E.R.S. are extremely likable. This odd assortment of guys are the kind of people you want to be assigned with if you ever find yourself in similar circumstances... snowed in to a remote observation post. They are each very human and each has qualities, which make life seem like very valuable goods indeed. The waste of war effects each one differently. On that title midnight things do not go as planned and there is more waste but this novel with very little combat in it does make things very clear, no one wants to fight. The character interaction makes this a worthwhile read. Not a big anti-war novel but a small one with a lyric attraction.
“A World War II Classic Novel You Should Read”, January 2, 2001
Reviewer: A. Wolverton (Crofton, MD United States)
It's Christmas Eve, 1944. You're a young officer in your 20's, in charge of five other GI's, all fairly young men as well. You are assigned to occupy an abandoned French chateau as an observation post near the German front. None of you have much real combat experience. It's cold and you're all scared to death. As if you weren't all anxious enough, you see signs that the Germans know exactly where you are.
Such is the premise of "A Midnight Clear." Wharton has written a fascinating tale of young men at war. These young men really don't know what war or life is all about. The book is suspenseful, moving, tragic, and well written. Highly recommended.
“Wharton is a writer who paints.....moving, unforgettable”, December 16, 2000
Reviewer: K. Horvath (USA
The back cover of my book sites Wharton as a painter who writes. I think it is the other way around. I have never read a more moving, and readable book. This is a story that will stay with you for a long time. Saving Private Ryan was good, but in this book you know the hearts and minds of the characters. Don't miss this one.