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From Here to Eternity (novel)
Encyclopedia
From Here to Eternity is the debut novel
by James Jones
, winner of the National Book Award
for fiction in 1952. It was ranked 62 on Modern Library
's list of the 100 Best Novels
. It is loosely based on Jones' experiences in the pre-World War II
Hawaiian Division
's 27th Infantry
and the unit in which he served, Company E ("The Boxing Company"). Fellow company member Hal Gould
said that while the novel was based on the company, including some depictions of actual persons, the characters are fictional and both the harsh conditions and described events are inventions. The 1953 film
, 1979 miniseries, and 1980 dramatic series
were all adapted from the novel.
and self-described "thirty-year man
," (a career soldier) and his superiors. Because he blinded a fellow soldier while boxing, the stubborn Prewitt refuses to box for his company’s outfit and then resists the "Treatment," a daily hazing
ritual in which the non-commissioned officers of his company run him into the ground.
The central characters are essentially similar in all three of Jones's World War II novels, though their names are somewhat altered. From Here to Eternity features Warden and Prewitt, who become Welsh and Witt in The Thin Red Line
and Mart Winch and Bobby Prell in Whistle
. Similarly, Corporal Fife in The Thin Red Line
reappears as Marion Landers in Whistle
, as does the cook, Maylon Stark, who becomes Storm, then Johnny "Mother" Strange.
's poem "Gentleman Ranker
s"
, revealed that James Jones was compelled to make a number of pre-publication cuts to the book's manuscript, removing some expletives and some gay sex passages. A new edition of the book with the previously censored passages restored was published as an e-book
by publisher Open Road in May 2011.
has written many articles and essays praising From Here to Eternity, the most famous of which is "In the Islands," from The White Album
.
The novel is included in Modern Library List of Best 20th-Century Novels
.
directed by Fred Zinnemann
and produced by Buddy Adler.
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
by James Jones
James Jones (author)
James Jones was an American author known for his explorations of World War II and its aftermath.-Life and work:...
, winner of the National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
for fiction in 1952. It was ranked 62 on Modern Library
Modern Library
The Modern Library is a publishing company. Founded in 1917 by Albert Boni and Horace Liveright as an imprint of their publishing company Boni & Liveright, it was purchased in 1925 by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer...
's list of the 100 Best Novels
Modern Library List of Best 20th-Century Novels
Modern Library's 100 Best Novels is a list of the best English-language novels of the 20th century as selected by the Modern Library. Both Modern Library and Random House USA, the parent company, are US companies. Critics have argued that this is responsible for a very American view of the greatest...
. It is loosely based on Jones' experiences in the pre-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Hawaiian Division
Hawaiian Division (United States)
The Hawaiian Division was a division of the United States Army.This division was named rather than numbered, as were the Philippine, Panama Canal Division and Americal Divisions. It was first activated under the peacetime Square Division Table of Organization and Equipment on 25 February 1921 as...
's 27th Infantry
27th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 27th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the Wolfhounds, is a unit of the United States Army established in 1901, that served in the Philippine-American War, in the Siberian Intervention after World War I, and as part of the 25th Infantry Division during World War II, the Korean War, and later the...
and the unit in which he served, Company E ("The Boxing Company"). Fellow company member Hal Gould
Hal Gould
Hal Gould is an American photographer and gallery curator.-Early life:Gould was born in in Clark, Wyoming. He grew up on a farm in New Mexico and left home at the age of 15. After holding a number of different jobs, he entered dentistry school, but was drafted into the army in 1940...
said that while the novel was based on the company, including some depictions of actual persons, the characters are fictional and both the harsh conditions and described events are inventions. The 1953 film
From Here to Eternity
From Here to Eternity is a 1953 drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann and based on the novel of the same name by James Jones. It deals with the troubles of soldiers, played by Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra and Ernest Borgnine stationed on Hawaii in the months leading up to the...
, 1979 miniseries, and 1980 dramatic series
From Here to Eternity (TV series)
From Here to Eternity was a six-hour 1979 television mini-series, followed by a thirteen episode 1980 television series.The mini-series was a remake of the 1953 film From Here to Eternity and based on the 1951 novel of the same name...
were all adapted from the novel.
Plot introduction
Set in the summer and autumn of 1941 at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, the story follows several members of G Company, including Captain Dana “Dynamite” Holmes and First Sergeant Milt Warden, who begins an affair with Holmes's wife Karen. At the heart of the novel lies a struggle between former bugler Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt, an infantryman from KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and self-described "thirty-year man
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
," (a career soldier) and his superiors. Because he blinded a fellow soldier while boxing, the stubborn Prewitt refuses to box for his company’s outfit and then resists the "Treatment," a daily hazing
Hazing
Hazing is a term used to describe various ritual and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group....
ritual in which the non-commissioned officers of his company run him into the ground.
The central characters are essentially similar in all three of Jones's World War II novels, though their names are somewhat altered. From Here to Eternity features Warden and Prewitt, who become Welsh and Witt in The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line (1962 novel)
The Thin Red Line is author James Jones's fictional account of the World War II Galloping Horse portion of the Battle of Mount Austen, specifically Hill 53, during the Guadalcanal campaign, which he experienced firsthand in the United States Army's 25th Infantry Division...
and Mart Winch and Bobby Prell in Whistle
Whistle (novel)
Whistle , a novel by James Jones, tells the story of four wounded South Pacific veterans brought back by hospital ship to the United States during World War II...
. Similarly, Corporal Fife in The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line (1962 novel)
The Thin Red Line is author James Jones's fictional account of the World War II Galloping Horse portion of the Battle of Mount Austen, specifically Hill 53, during the Guadalcanal campaign, which he experienced firsthand in the United States Army's 25th Infantry Division...
reappears as Marion Landers in Whistle
Whistle (novel)
Whistle , a novel by James Jones, tells the story of four wounded South Pacific veterans brought back by hospital ship to the United States during World War II...
, as does the cook, Maylon Stark, who becomes Storm, then Johnny "Mother" Strange.
Title
The title was inspired by a line from Rudyard KiplingRudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
's poem "Gentleman Ranker
Gentleman ranker
A Gentleman ranker is an enlisted soldier who may have been a former officer or a gentleman qualified through education and background to be a commissioned officer but elects to remain a common soldier...
s"
- Gentlemen-rankers out on a spree,
- Damned from here to Eternity,
- God ha' mercy on such as we,
- Baa! Yah! Bah!
Cuts
In 2009 the author's daughter, Kaylie JonesKaylie Jones
Kaylie Jones is an American novelist. She was raised in Paris.- Background :Kaylie Jones is an American writer, memoirist and novelist...
, revealed that James Jones was compelled to make a number of pre-publication cuts to the book's manuscript, removing some expletives and some gay sex passages. A new edition of the book with the previously censored passages restored was published as an e-book
E-book
An electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
by publisher Open Road in May 2011.
Literary response
Joan DidionJoan Didion
Joan Didion is an American author best known for her novels and her literary journalism. Her novels and essays explore the disintegration of American morals and cultural chaos, where the overriding theme is individual and social fragmentation...
has written many articles and essays praising From Here to Eternity, the most famous of which is "In the Islands," from The White Album
The White Album (book)
The White Album is a 1979 book of essays by Joan Didion. The entire contents of this book are reprinted in Didion's We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live: Collected Nonfiction .-I...
.
The novel is included in Modern Library List of Best 20th-Century Novels
Modern Library List of Best 20th-Century Novels
Modern Library's 100 Best Novels is a list of the best English-language novels of the 20th century as selected by the Modern Library. Both Modern Library and Random House USA, the parent company, are US companies. Critics have argued that this is responsible for a very American view of the greatest...
.
Film adaptation
In 1953, the novel was made into a filmFrom Here to Eternity
From Here to Eternity is a 1953 drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann and based on the novel of the same name by James Jones. It deals with the troubles of soldiers, played by Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra and Ernest Borgnine stationed on Hawaii in the months leading up to the...
directed by Fred Zinnemann
Fred Zinnemann
Fred Zinnemann was an Austrian-American film director. He won four Academy Awards and directed films like High Noon, From Here to Eternity and A Man for All Seasons.-Life and career:...
and produced by Buddy Adler.