The General (Forester novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Founder | C. S. Forester |
| Products | Historical fiction novel |
The General is a 1936 novel authored by C. S. Forester, renowned for his Horatio Hornblower series and the 1935 work The African Queen. This book presents an authentic depiction of World War I, emphasizing the British Army’s struggles with trench warfare.
The narrative centers on Herbert Curzon, a career military officer who advances from a junior role during the Second Boer War to a senior command position in the First World War. Although courageous and committed, Curzon is otherwise ordinary and becomes increasingly exasperated by the war’s deadlock as he climbs the hierarchy, issuing orders that result in heavy casualties. While he survives and preserves his personal integrity, his leadership is characterized by a lack of psychological insight and a conventional mindset, embodying the futility of the conflict.
The novel has been acclaimed for its depiction of an average officer, which adds considerable weight to the story. Historian Max Hastings is among those who have emphasized its lasting significance.
Narrative structure
At the onset of WWI in August 1914, Curzon holds the rank of senior major in the 22nd Lancers. Having distinguished himself during a cavalry charge in the Boer War, his subsequent career follows a path of strict routine.
He temporarily assumes battalion command and, after the First Battle of Ypres, takes over brigade leadership following the death of his superior officer. Upon returning to England, Curzon experiences rapid advancement aided by chance and political connections, including his marriage to Lady Emily, daughter of the Duke of Bude, linking him to influential opposition groups.
Assigned to command the fictional 91st Infantry Division comprising 10,000 soldiers, Curzon orders numerous costly assaults amid artillery barrages, gas attacks, and machine gun fire. Although his division becomes highly effective, it is forced to retreat during the March 1918 German offensive. Upholding traditional military values, Curzon charges among his troops on horseback wielding a sword rather than accept defeat. He sustains injuries from shell fragments that lead to prolonged suffering and eventual amputation of a leg, concluding his wartime service.
Character psychology
By this stage known as General Sir Herbert Curzon, he is neither cruel nor indifferent but rather a courageous, honest yet inflexible and unimaginative commander. Forester uses Curzon’s ascent to high command, his role in directing senseless slaughter, and his retirement as a disabled veteran to symbolize the entrenched attitudes within both the British Army and ruling classes that contributed to WWI’s devastating losses.
He harbors skepticism towards theorists and remains outside the "blood-brotherhood of Camberley". Like his superiors, he subscribes to "Attrition" tactics and believes in achieving victory through overwhelming force—the "Big Push" concept—employing more troops and heavier artillery. Consequently, he is taken aback by the success of tanks at the Cambrai.
Scene at War Office
A scene set in the War Office depicts a field marshal, a general, and a major-general consenting to Curzon’s promotion—not due to intrigue but because "an adventitious circumstance had singled him out." Major-General Mackenzie expresses concern over the shortage of competent brigadiers, questioning "where am I to get three hundred good brigadiers from?" The field marshal elevates Curzon to major-general so he outranks Webb; later Curzon must "unstick" (dismiss) Webb when Webb proposes to "adjust" (withdraw) his front line. Ultimately, Curzon commands four divisions—approximately 100,000 men—matching or exceeding the scale led by historic figures such as Wellington or Marlborough.
At war’s beginning, London had prepared an adequately equipped force (the British Expeditionary Force). Curzon was temporarily promoted to lieutenant-colonel as a "vigorous younger man," replacing a retiring officer reassigned to yeomanry training. However, with the Ninety-first division—part of the newly raised armies—the War Office proved inadequate: soldiers were left without proper clothing, shelter, or arms in muddy encampments. Curzon convinced Mackenzie to obtain necessary supplies such as duckboards by asserting he had influential backing.
Mackenzie held the post of Director-General of Tactical Services throughout various political upheavals; despite other officials—including prominent Ministers of War—being dismissed, he retained his position despite controversial views during the Ulster crisis. Due to personal loyalty, Curzon advised his father-in-law, the Duke, to support Mackenzie’s continuation.
The field marshal and Minister of War character resembles Kitchener, having served as Sirdar of the Egyptian Army at forty-one—the same age as Curzon. In this narrative, he is removed from office rather than dying at sea and is succeeded by another cavalry officer—Scottish rather than Irish—named Haig.
Reception and Impact of the Novel
The General has been acclaimed for its authentic depiction of the British Officer Corps' wartime mentality, a portrayal that took many veterans by surprise given that the author had no military experience. An unconfirmed story suggests that Adolf Hitler admired the book so much that he mandated it as essential reading for his senior commanders to gain insight into British military perspectives; this anecdote is mentioned by Forester in the foreword of a subsequent edition.
In his work Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War, historian Max Hastings characterizes The General as "brilliantly contemptuous," drawing parallels between World War I generals and primitive warriors relying on sheer force rather than tactical acumen. Hastings highlights that this critical stance, also supported by figures such as Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George, continues to hold sway, although he questions whether ending the deadlock was ever truly achievable.