Published in 1977, The Wars by Timothy Findley follows the military life of Canadian soldier Robert Ross. After the tragic death of his sister, Robert joins the Canadian military and goes on a surreal journey to the Belgian front during World War I, eventually committing an infamous act of treason. Findley uses a fragmented and surreal style to present war as absurd and to undercut our ability to understand it. Findley partially drew from the experiences of his uncle, a World War I vet, as well as his own time on an Ontario farm.
Despite its often dour and difficult tone, The Wars won the Governor General's Award for fiction in 1977 and spawned both a film and theatrical adaptation.
