Published in 1922, Disenchantment is C.E. Montague's clear-eyed look at the aftermath of the Great War. Montague himself served and saw the disconnect between the patriotic fervor at home and the grim reality of the front. This book is his attempt to bridge that gap for the reading public.

The Story

The book follows several British soldiers—officers and enlisted men—from their idealistic enlistment through the horrors of trench warfare and, most importantly, into their troubled return to civilian life. We see them grappling with a society that wants to forget the war, that misunderstands their trauma, and that often seems shallow compared to the intense bonds of the front. Their struggle isn't with enemy soldiers, but with boredom, bureaucracy, and a profound sense of alienation. The plot is less about big events and more about these small, personal moments of friction as they try to fit back into a world that has moved on without them.

Why You Should Read It

What struck me most was Montague's voice. He's not angry or melodramatic; he's weary, witty, and brutally observant. The satire here is quiet but deadly. He pinpoints the absurdities of wartime propaganda and the hollow "business as usual" attitude at home with a few perfect sentences. The characters feel real because their disillusionment isn't a single, dramatic moment—it's a slow seep, a series of disappointments that changes them forever. It made me think less about history in a textbook sense and more about the human cost of any major conflict, the silent struggle of coming home that we're still talking about today.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for readers who enjoy historical insight but want it through a personal, literary lens. If you liked the reflective tone of Hemingway's war writing or the psychological depth of Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, you'll find a friend in Montague. It's also great for anyone curious about the 1920s and how that 'lost generation' feeling took root. Fair warning: it's not a fast-paced action novel. It's a thoughtful, sometimes melancholy, and always intelligent walk with men who have seen too much. A truly overlooked classic that deserves a fresh audience.