FICTION

Sparta

by Roxana Robinson
Sarah Crichton: Farrar. Jun. 2013. 384p. ISBN 9780374267704. $27. F
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In Return of the Soldier, published in 1918, Rebecca West introduced the world to the trauma experienced by World War I soldiers. Almost 100 years later, Robinson (A Perfect Stranger) continues this literary tradition with the story of Conrad Farrell, an Iraq War veteran readjusting to life in Westchester, NY. Though he comes home a hero, Conrad finds his world slowly unraveling as headaches, anger, and depression prevent him from connecting to a life he once knew. At the same time, through a series of flashbacks to Iraq, Conrad's memories shift from acts of bravery to an understanding of himself as a victim. Fundamentally disconnected from himself and the people he loves, Conrad begins to grasp the unfathomable realism of trauma.
VERDICT Robinson pens a raw portrayal of soldiers returning from modern warfare, attempting to represent the complexity of the traumatic experience without neglecting the horrifying truth. Readers who appreciated Rodge Glass's Dougie's War will also be drawn to this novel. [See Prepub Alert, 11/30/12.]
Reviewed by Joshua Finnell, Denison Univ. Lib., Granville, OH , Jun 01, 2013
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