---
product_id: 8578512
title: "The Absolutist: A Novel by the Author of The Heart's Invisible Furies"
price: "€ 24.08"
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---

# The Absolutist: A Novel by the Author of The Heart's Invisible Furies

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## Description

desertcart.com: The Absolutist: A Novel by the Author of The Heart's Invisible Furies: 9781590515525: Boyne, John: Books

Review: wow - an unforgettable story - ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: An unforgettable, beautifully written and heart-wrenching story about choices we make and the regrets that sometimes follow. BRIEF REVIEW: When this book was first published in 2012, I just didn't think it was a story for me but, was I ever wrong. What is an "absolutist?" We are told that when it comes to war, it is worse than being a conscientious objector. Not only does an "absolutist" refuse to fight in a war they also refuse to perform ANY duties to help in the war effort like helping out on the sidelines or in a hospital for example. The story begins in 1919 on a train with Tristan Sadler traveling to visit Marian, the sister of Will Bancroft, a very close friend of Tristans and fallen soldier. The purpose of the visit is to return a stack of letters that Marion wrote Will during the war. The two young men were briefly, intimately involved while serving in France. While Will preferred to forget the incidents and made light of them, Tristan could not forget the encounters as he cared deeply for Will. Many issues are covered in this beautiful story: family, courage, cowardice, friendships, pressures to conform, homophobia and more. Never do the issues overwhelm the storyline. It's actually a simple story, yet masterfully written. Through flashbacks from 1919 to 1916 the reader gets a clear picture of what happened but, it isn't until you get closer to the ending that the real shock and impact of the story hits you. The story ends with Tristan as an old man in 1979. This is a story I'll never forget. I'm more determined than ever to read everything that John Boyne has written; his book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, was another book of his that has never left me. If you decide to read this book (please do) go into it blind, like I did and don't read too many reviews. The story is written in such a way that it does not give anything away too soon at least, you get just small pieces in just the right doses. This would make an excellent book club discussion choice. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED NOTE: Thanks go to Other Press for sending this book my way in exchange for my unbiased review. MEMORABLE QUOTES: "Astonishing how everyone is willing to go abroad to fight for the foreigners while having such little concern for those of their own countrymen at home." " I think perhaps the adults we become are formed in childhood and there's no way around it." "I felt that this is what it must be like to be married to someone, a constant back and forth of bickering, watching out for any stray comment in a conversation that might be corrected, anything to keep gaining the upper hand, the advantage, bringing one closer to taking the game, the set, the whole blasted match without ever conceding a point."
Review: Principles and Passions in the Trenches - I was riveted to John Boyne's The Absolutist for several days, altering my normal sleep schedule to fit in a few extra minutes of reading. It was a rewarding read, beautifully written, graphic without being sordid or voyeuristic and compelling in a very carefully constructed plot-line. There was always enough tantalizing information to make me want read just a few more pages than planned, while keeping some of the more surprising (though not completely unexpected) developments for the last few dozen pages. The main characters were well-crafted and complex enough to seem real although the minor characters tended to be formulaic or simply erratic (I am thinking of Will's parents and sisters who, in their own gentile way, I found as repugnant and bigoted as Tristan's. I can't believe that a vicar charged with counseling shell-shocked veterans could have been so cruelly insensitive to his son's best friend [if that was what he was]; and the sister was as brutal as the army sergeant in her own way until the bitter end.). The author deals with issues of homophobia--an inherent part of the Judeo-Christian cultural heritage--pacifism and the banality of evil in war, with all the complex moral issues that it raises, along with classism (lower-class butcher's son contrasted with middle-class vicar's son). Over all, however, I was disappointed with the facile and unbelievable way the author tied the plot together at the end--when the final retribution for a moment of youthful anger was meted out sixty years on, triggered by a few nasty comments that shouldn't have made any difference any more. I also sensed that the reader was supposed to believe that the self-righteous moral posturing of one character, as admirable as it was on a philosophical level, was superior to the practical, emotional and very human reaction of a shell-shocked soldier who came from a background of intolerance, abuse and unrequited, hidden love. The hypocrisy of the character who professed a (self-destructive) attachment to legal principles was revealed painfully in the concurrent cruel and opportunistic emotional exploitation of his doting friend. Nevertheless, the twisted, shifting moral maze through which the two main characters moved in the plot constantly suggested profound and disturbing questions that challenged me to think beyond the story itself to bigger issues of principles, family, love, loyalty and a deeper meaning of courage.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #2,260,081 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #25 in LGBTQ+ Historical Fiction (Books) #639 in War Fiction (Books) #6,251 in Historical British & Irish Literature |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (4,665) |
| Dimensions  | 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 1590515528 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1590515525 |
| Item Weight  | 12.8 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 320 pages |
| Publication date  | July 10, 2012 |
| Publisher  | Other Press |

## Images

![The Absolutist: A Novel by the Author of The Heart's Invisible Furies - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61OELmcS4QL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ wow - an unforgettable story
*by M***S on April 30, 2021*

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: An unforgettable, beautifully written and heart-wrenching story about choices we make and the regrets that sometimes follow. BRIEF REVIEW: When this book was first published in 2012, I just didn't think it was a story for me but, was I ever wrong. What is an "absolutist?" We are told that when it comes to war, it is worse than being a conscientious objector. Not only does an "absolutist" refuse to fight in a war they also refuse to perform ANY duties to help in the war effort like helping out on the sidelines or in a hospital for example. The story begins in 1919 on a train with Tristan Sadler traveling to visit Marian, the sister of Will Bancroft, a very close friend of Tristans and fallen soldier. The purpose of the visit is to return a stack of letters that Marion wrote Will during the war. The two young men were briefly, intimately involved while serving in France. While Will preferred to forget the incidents and made light of them, Tristan could not forget the encounters as he cared deeply for Will. Many issues are covered in this beautiful story: family, courage, cowardice, friendships, pressures to conform, homophobia and more. Never do the issues overwhelm the storyline. It's actually a simple story, yet masterfully written. Through flashbacks from 1919 to 1916 the reader gets a clear picture of what happened but, it isn't until you get closer to the ending that the real shock and impact of the story hits you. The story ends with Tristan as an old man in 1979. This is a story I'll never forget. I'm more determined than ever to read everything that John Boyne has written; his book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, was another book of his that has never left me. If you decide to read this book (please do) go into it blind, like I did and don't read too many reviews. The story is written in such a way that it does not give anything away too soon at least, you get just small pieces in just the right doses. This would make an excellent book club discussion choice. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED NOTE: Thanks go to Other Press for sending this book my way in exchange for my unbiased review. MEMORABLE QUOTES: "Astonishing how everyone is willing to go abroad to fight for the foreigners while having such little concern for those of their own countrymen at home." " I think perhaps the adults we become are formed in childhood and there's no way around it." "I felt that this is what it must be like to be married to someone, a constant back and forth of bickering, watching out for any stray comment in a conversation that might be corrected, anything to keep gaining the upper hand, the advantage, bringing one closer to taking the game, the set, the whole blasted match without ever conceding a point."

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Principles and Passions in the Trenches
*by C***L on August 16, 2013*

I was riveted to John Boyne's The Absolutist for several days, altering my normal sleep schedule to fit in a few extra minutes of reading. It was a rewarding read, beautifully written, graphic without being sordid or voyeuristic and compelling in a very carefully constructed plot-line. There was always enough tantalizing information to make me want read just a few more pages than planned, while keeping some of the more surprising (though not completely unexpected) developments for the last few dozen pages. The main characters were well-crafted and complex enough to seem real although the minor characters tended to be formulaic or simply erratic (I am thinking of Will's parents and sisters who, in their own gentile way, I found as repugnant and bigoted as Tristan's. I can't believe that a vicar charged with counseling shell-shocked veterans could have been so cruelly insensitive to his son's best friend [if that was what he was]; and the sister was as brutal as the army sergeant in her own way until the bitter end.). The author deals with issues of homophobia--an inherent part of the Judeo-Christian cultural heritage--pacifism and the banality of evil in war, with all the complex moral issues that it raises, along with classism (lower-class butcher's son contrasted with middle-class vicar's son). Over all, however, I was disappointed with the facile and unbelievable way the author tied the plot together at the end--when the final retribution for a moment of youthful anger was meted out sixty years on, triggered by a few nasty comments that shouldn't have made any difference any more. I also sensed that the reader was supposed to believe that the self-righteous moral posturing of one character, as admirable as it was on a philosophical level, was superior to the practical, emotional and very human reaction of a shell-shocked soldier who came from a background of intolerance, abuse and unrequited, hidden love. The hypocrisy of the character who professed a (self-destructive) attachment to legal principles was revealed painfully in the concurrent cruel and opportunistic emotional exploitation of his doting friend. Nevertheless, the twisted, shifting moral maze through which the two main characters moved in the plot constantly suggested profound and disturbing questions that challenged me to think beyond the story itself to bigger issues of principles, family, love, loyalty and a deeper meaning of courage.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This one ravaged my heart; a must read for all who love literary fiction.
*by C***L on March 14, 2022*

This book, in my mind, cements John Boyne as one of, if not THE finest Irish novelist ever. It gets a 4.5 simply because I liked The Heart’s Invisible Furies just a tad more; I therefore have Mr. Boyne competing against himself, fair or not. This man digs deep into the human mind, spirit, and soul. In my experience his closest competition in this respect is Fredrik Backman. To be gay in the early 20th century was a curse. This was simply unacceptable in society at that time. These people for the most part were relegated to a lifetime of longing, frustration, and shame. Couple that with family rejection and tumultuous experiences as a soldier in WWI, and you have the recipe for a very difficult life. That was Tristan Sadler. His best friend during the war, Will Bancroft, had other things on his mind, uppermost being doing what is right. Then there was Marian, Will’s sister. She has a minor yet powerful role in the novel. These characters are written magnificently and are to be believed. The story is profound. This book ravaged my heart. Don’t think you know where this story is going because you don’t. I found the last bit stunning. The Absolutist—a novel for every reader of literary fiction. Please don’t miss out. As I finish this review, I have decided that to pit Boyne against Boyne just isn’t fair. I am rewarding it all the stars I have to give.

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*Last updated: 2026-03-20*