This book explores some of the less well known, skeleton-in-a-closet aspects of the effect of World War I on combatants and civilians. It takes us down some very dark pathways, indeed; as if killing each other by the millions was not dark enough. It's a historical fiction book with elements of factual events weaved into the story. Some of that will be explained in the author's note at the end of the book. This is the 2nd book of the Regeneration trilogy and while you will already be familiar with many of the characters if you have read the first book, it can be read as a stand alone novel as well. It does explore in some detail the inner turmoils of some of the characters introduced in Book One of the trilogy.

This book is quite graphic in its description of male homosexual encounters and for me that was uncomfortable. While one of the characters is bisexual, where females are involved the descriptions are not nearly as graphic and mainly focus on the platonic aspects of the relationship.

The story is played out in disjointed pieces, first focusing on one character, then bouncing from one to another. It is a British book and often the details went right past me as such; much as they do with me and British TV productions, comedy shows, etc. That is simply speaking to my own obtuseness. But I'm not a big fan of bouncing from character to character in bits and pieces of the story being told in this fashion. I finally had to envision it as a (British) soap opera and in that manner I was able to settle in and finish the book.

I did appreciate the overall anti-war message of the book. The atrocities outlined are brutal. And it is horrifying that homosexuals were sought after and persecuted even as they fought for their country. As an American citizen, I'm particularly sensitive to this topic and the persecution of individuals as we have entered into very scary times here ourselves.

The factual parts of the story as related by the author at the end of the book are quite interesting and also mind boggling. Again it brought me back to current events and some of the ridiculous, yet atrocious things we see play out every day. History certainly repeats itself. It's too bad more people don't read about history. They should. ( )

The continuation of Rivers, Sassoon and Prior (but also many secondary characters and many themes) from book one of the Regeneration trilogy. The honesty of the first book seems to become cynicism and bitterness aplenty in this book. But this is World War I. And Pat Barker is still plenty honest. But it seems she wanted more of a mystery or spy aspect to this book, which is fine, but doesn't really match the purpose of the first novel. ( )

Set in London, this second novel in the Regeneration Trilogy, continues the examination of the psychological effects of the Great War We continue to learn more about the lives of the main characters – Dr. William Rivers, Billy Prior, and, eventually, Siegfried Sassoon. It is early 1918 and the war is not going well. The hunt for scapegoats is on, and likely candidates are conscientious objectors and homosexuals. Billy Prior is working for the government. He finds out about a situation in which one of his friends was framed. He begins to experience blackouts. He reconnects with Dr. Rivers.

The writing is outstanding. The plot is intricate and compelling. The characters are deeply developed. Barker is skilled at developing a feeling of completeness to the story, even in the middle book of a trilogy, which is a rare talent that I appreciate. I am looking forward to reading the third and final book, The Ghost Road.

4.5 ( )

This sequel to [Regeneration] follows three of the characters in that book as they struggle to contend with the war. Rivers has taken a post as neurologist in London, Sassoon is wounded, back from another tour of duty, and Prior, the main focus of the book, has been declared unfit because of his asthma and works in a sector of the Intelligence agency.

Everyone feels watched. The British home command and their peers have become virulantly homophobic, even more than in peacetime, blaming them for the horrific losses of the war, and, in addition to attacking suspected homosexuals, has been attacking the pacifics protesting the war. This strains many, and allows Rivers in his capacity as neurologist (read analyst) to delve even deeper into his patients' lives.

As a member of intelligence, Prior is deeply divided between the people he knew growing up, active in the pacifist cause, and his own service requirements. His bisexuality doesn't give him any ease either, and he begins having totally dissociative episodes after which he cannot recall what he has done. Barker's portrayal of this is ultimately breathtaking.

Rivers, deeply involved as he is, takes on more and more of his patients' pain, to the point of having their nightmares.

"This was a dreadful place. Nothing human could live here. Nothing human did. He was entirely alone, until, with a puckering of the surface, a belch of foul vapours, the mud began to move, to gather itself together, to rise and stand before him in the shape of a man. A man who turned and began striding towards England. He tried to call out, no, not that way, and the movement of his lips half woke him. But he sank down again, and again the mud gathered itself into the shape of a man, faster and faster until it seemed the whole night was full of such creatures, creatures composed of Flanders mud and nothing else, moving their grotesque limbs in the direction of home." ( )

Although I preferred Regeneration this is an excellent follow up. We see less of Sassoon and Owen and a lot more of Billy Prior. Rivers remains a fascinating character and a sympathetic lens to view the various mental disorders of the soldiers.

I think Billy Prior is a brilliant character, full of complexity and contradictions, and this book really gets to the heart of his background. ( )