Timothy Findley's war novels

Abstract

Timothy Findley has shown a deep concern for the most outstanding historical events of the 20th century, seen from the point of view of a Canadian citizen with a remarkable European vocation. Two of his best known novels are The Wars and Famous Last Words. The first one depicts the spiritual nightmare undergone by a Canadian lieutenant during World War I. The technique used for Famous Last Words is completely different and the view of the world at war refers to the period 1940-1945. This other novel depicts the activities of historical characters, besides fictitious ones. We have never felt the presence of evil so disturbing as with this extravagant tale that sounds like "the truth," because the memory of the events is still so vivid that it will outlive several generations of human beings.