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William Wharton
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Shrapnel: A Memoir Hardcover – May 14, 2013

by William Wharton (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
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Author of such classic wartime novels as Birdy and A Midnight Clear, William Wharton was one of the most acclaimed writers of his generation. However, he was also a very private man—he wrote under a pseudonym and rarely gave interviews—so fans and critics could only speculate how much of his work was autobiographical and how much was fiction.

Now, for the first time, we are able to read the author's own account of his experiences during World War II—events that went on to influence some of his greatest works.

These are the tales that Wharton never wanted to tell his children. Together, they illuminate a deeply personal, transformative experience: of learning to kill, to "abandon my natural desire to live, survive, and to risk my life for reasons I often did not understand and sometimes did not accept." Moving and insightful, Shrapnel is a powerful, timeless work from an acclaimed American master. 

Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    William Morrow
  4. Publication date
    May 14, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.93 x 7.12 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0062257374
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0062257376
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Wharton is exceptionally gifted.” — John Fowles

About the Author

A self-described painter who writes, William Wharton is the pen name for the author of two memoirs—Houseboat on the Seine and Ever After—as well as eight novels—Birdy, Dad, A Midnight Clear, Scumbler, Pride, Tidings, Franky Furbo, and Last Lovers. His works have been acclaimed worldwide and have been translated into over fifteen languages.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow; Original edition (May 14, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062257374
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062257376
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.93 x 7.12 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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William Wharton

William Wharton

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
24 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

SailAway
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for those who want to understand life as a GI in WWII
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2020
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I recommend reading this book.

I read this memior to learn what life was like for citizens turned soldiers in WWII like my grandfather.

This memoir really helped me to better understand the challenges men like my grandfather faced spanning from bookcamp through to the fronlines advancing towards Germany (the author like my grandfather was a scout fighting and fought in many of the same places).

In a way this memior perhaps allowed me to reconnect with my grandfather in spirit and offer my prayers to console the PTSD that he battled throughout his post-war life.
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Ron2BSure
4.0 out of 5 stars War's demeaning brutality, as told in a series of WW II anecdotes
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2013
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William Wharton, author of a number of successful novels including "Birdy," strings together a series of personal anecdotes about his experiences in boot camp and as a soldier in England, France and Germany during World War II, in which he is not ashamed to admit fear and cowardice and brutality, not only on his own part but on the part of the military in general. The anecdotes are told in a somewhat brusque and arid manner, and although some of them are interesting, there is nothing terribly unusual about his experiences. He is honest in admitting how terrified he was, indeed how terrified many of the soldiers were, and in deploring rape and the murder of innocent German captive soldiers. Mr. Wharton felt ashamed to admit some of his experiences and actions during the war to his children, and I believe this book has only just been published posthumously. It paints a picture of war as hell, as something barbarous and demeaning. It's a quick read -- 263 pages of rather large type. Can probably be read and digested at a single sitting. Here is the tale of his being called upon to become a mapmaker in England, an advance scout parachuted into France ahead of the invasion of Normandy, and of various escapades advancing on the German front lines. In the end, his numerous experiences being hit by shrapnel and hospitalized, indeed shrapnel itself, become a metaphor for the pain and failure most of us must endure in life. And he ends with: "I hope my kids enjoy these tales and won't lose too much respect for me. That would be like a land mine." For those seeking a more vivid and horrifying depiction of warfare, particularly war in the Pacific during World War II, seek out "The Day the Century Ended," a novel by Francis Irby Gwaltney.
4 people found this helpful
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I. Detest-Neiklot, J.R.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2018
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I discovered William Wharton via the early 1990's film "A Midnight Clear," based on the novel of the same name. I was quite affected by the film and as a result decided to seek out the book upon which it was based. While AMC was semi-autobiographical, Wharton never wrote anything else about his experiences in WWII (of which I was aware) and, as a result, I resigned myself to never discovering any more on the subject. However, I recently came across this narrative and am very glad I did! Wharton had a fascinating-- if tragic-- experience during WWII and while some of it sounds too unbelievable to be true, I would love to find out more. Sadly, I'm not sure we'll ever know.
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Christopher Junker
5.0 out of 5 stars War stories as education
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2016
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Shrapnel is a collection of short episodes from William Wharton's time in the European Theater of the Second World War. Like most books about the personal experience of war that have any ring of truth about them, Shrapnel portrays war in a most unHollywood-like dim light. At the same time, any conflict is also populated by many ordinary people showing, what for them, is a previously unimaginable degree of courage. The backstory of this book being a belated attempt to fill gaps in the sharing crucial events of his life that shaped his beliefs and his behavior as a parent just makes the book all the more interesting.
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David A. Dresser
4.0 out of 5 stars Shrapnel: a memoir that arouses my memory.
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2013
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Full disclosure: I knew this author and spent considerable time with him in discussion of many things.
His style here is terse but honest. I like the form and this means to get at diverse truths. The connections made between men in the military are not much like other connections. Mr. Wharton reveals his own mind in offering insights into other minds.
I think that Shrapnel may suffer a bit, as a literary work, in comparison with Mr. Whartons other books, but it is a valuable contribution and permits a reader to know the man. I also served in the military, albeit during a time of peace. My acquaintances were enough like the ones in this memoir to offer me a sense of familiarity.
I am glad to have read this.
4 people found this helpful
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Mary Duaime
5.0 out of 5 stars Albert
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2019
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I really enjoyed this. I could relate being in the Navy during Vietnam but not having seen combat. The writer and my father were cousins so this is a little closer to home, since a number of cousins did serve during WW II.
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Boyd L. Peyton
2.0 out of 5 stars Not believable!
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2013
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I served in the Army shortly after Wharton did - never in combat, but I knew many guys who were, and in the same areas. Almost none of his stories rang true, and with rare exceptions I don't believe them. I think he made up most of them to justify his very negative opinion of his Army experience. I think somebody should have fact-checked his manuscript before publishing it. I don't think people, times, places and events would check out.

Boyd Peyton
One person found this helpful
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Mary Lou
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the way he writes
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2019
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I don't know how I missed this William Wharton book, but it is a gem. His perspective on war and being a soldier is profound.
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