Small Wars, a Thought Provoking Novel about Marriage and Guerilla Warfare

Sadie Jones' latest novel, Small Wars, is aptly named. Jones vividly describes two small, yet intense conflicts: the Cyprus war of independence against the British in the mid 1950s and the slow deterioration of the happy marriage of Major Hal Terhune and his wife Clara. The tension builds in both conflicts masterfully and makes for an absorbing read.

I knew little about Cyprus before picking up this novel, beyond a vague notion of its location close to Greece. I learned that in the aftermath of World War II, England was very motivated to maintain control of the island due to its strategic position near the Suez Canal, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Greece. Most of the islanders are of Greek descent although there is a minority Muslim population as well that are of Turkish descent. The Cypriots used basic terrorism techniques to retaliate against the British occupation in an increasingly violent conflict.

Smith does a great job of illustrating the terror of guerilla warfare in this idyllic island on the Mediterranean. In one particularly difficult scene, Major Terhune treats himself to a morning swim at the local beach only to witness the horrific deaths of two of his soldiers and their horses when they step on a landmine."The sand had settled and, with it, pieces of man and horse, huge splashes of blood that were like spilled pots of bright paint and hard to connect with reality."

Major Terhune's wife Clara moves to Cyprus with her twin 18-month old daughters to be with her husband. As she struggles with the typical issues of a new mother in a foreign outpost (uncomfortable accommodations, isolation, limited activities), she becomes increasingly distant from her husband. He wrestles with his growing moral conflict with the British role in Cyprus while she tries to hide her fear of the violence. It is painful to watch a close, loving couple become strangers to each other in a time of great need.

Bottom Line:
I found Small Wars to be a provoking and interesting read. The characters Sadie Jones created are complex, each placed in difficult moral situations. Reading the novel gave me a better appreciation of the horrors of war, and the compromises it forces everyone into. If you're looking for suggestions for your next book club pick, Small Wars would be rich with discussion topics. At a time of similar conflict in Afghanistan, and such unrest in the Middle East, it is of particular relevance.

I received my review copy of Small Wars as part of a TLC Book Tour.