Why give 5 stars to a First Novel? Because Vance Bourjaily’s The End of My Life is so insightful and so important that I can’t minimize it and say, ‘oh, it’s a promising first effort.’
Early in World War II, Skinner Galt goes far from New York City as a volunteer ambulance driver. This is quite a journey for Galt. Early on after leaving home, Skinner and his college friends continue to be drunk and carefree and silly. This does not last. Does this novel explore the depression born of loneliness, war, and disillusionment? Yes, it does. (An important human rights issue is confronted in here as well.)
This novel grew from a stage play, I’m told. And the first chapter (quietly tense and seemingly influenced by the early Hemingway novels) could have worked well onstage. Regardless, I find this to be a five-star novel. If I were teaching a course on Anti-War Novels, The End of My Life would be in there.
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