I can't say I've read many war novels before (if any at all) so this was a wholly unique experience for me. I was immediately immersed in Private Robert 'Bob' Henson's life as a soldier; Cobley's writing is incredibly graphic and paints a vivid picture of wartime. It is not all about the fighting and combat side of war (though there are elements of that, of course), but also about the freezing days spent in the trenches, the horrific conditions soldiers were forced to live in, the longing for home, and so much more. Throughout the novel, we are given snippets of Bob's life back on the farm, a strong contrast to the life he is leading as a soldier. We also meet some other soldiers each with a unique backstory of their own; men with families waiting back home, and men - just boys, really - with nobody to miss them. As far as I can tell, Cobley's representation of the soldiers' experience seems highly accurate, and it was really quite shocking to read some of the details. It's easy to forget just how much some people go through. Cobley also includes some information regarding his own circumstances, and explains his connection to Bob in 'real life'. This element of family history was a lovely touch and I felt it made the story even more poignant. There were some truly emotional moments (which I will not describe here in order to avoid any spoilers) and it trust reiterates the tragedy of war. The ending... I can't say too much, but gosh, it was a harrowing read. With the recent events regarding Ukraine, I have thought about this book a lot since I read it. I feel a great deal of sadness thinking about the lives soldiers lead, both in the past and at current times. Yes, the action scenes in this book are quite thrilling, but at the end of the day, it is a war novel. It is about loss. It is sad. There are some beautiful moments for sure, and it is very well written, but I can't imagine a war novel to ever not be sad, really. So just be prepared for that. That's not to say it's overly depressing or anything all the time, but I think it is only right, only respectful, to feel a great sense of emotion when reading about topics like this. And this book certainly did evoke emotion, in me, at least. If you're a fan of war stories, I'd certainly recommend you pick this up. Even if you haven't read any before - like me - it could be worth giving A Hundred Years to Arras a go. It's not a particularly 'light' read, but it will engulf you and cause you to empathise with the characters. 4 stars.

J.M Cobley's novel is a fantastic work depicting World War I events through the eyes of a young man who quite didn't know what he was about to face.  One of my favorite quotes is: "More than ever, he looked like a child caught in a game where no one explained the rules to him."  Robert Henson was a real person and the author's homage to his story is worth praise.  The farmer boy "Bob" also an only child leaves England to join the troops in France. Letters and memories are the only things he'll have connecting with his parents.  As he endures life in the trenches, he compares the different levels of violence recognizing the dehumanization of the enemy, yet without ever losing his moral compass. Even in the horrors of war, he finds strong bonds and camaraderie. Ernest is a great character with morally grey values that defies Robert's point of view.   We also get access to snips of his life back home. Some of these are triggered by what surrounds him and the choices he must make.  It's relevant to point out Robert's relationship with his father as a catharsis of things unspoken and people being robbed of time. A connection directly to the author and his father. This adds a lot of depth to the character. Robert is thrown into a war scenario but also faces many fun tasks that lighten the mood and their life. The football match, the quest to find the officer's dog... J.M. Cobley's writing is style is quite trawling with witty metaphors and other figures of speech.