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Review
“Jeff Francis gave his life not only for his comrades and their mission; he gave it with the firm conviction that it was his duty to humanity. This detailed account of the two lives of a Canadian captain reveals his metamorphosis from a student-philosopher to a dedicated military leader and father, deeply committed to his family and ancestry. A most worthy read.”
— LGen. The Hon. Roméo Dallaire (Ret’d), author of Shake Hands with the Devil and They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children
“Melanie Murray sketches the life and tragic death of one Canadian soldier with such a tender regard for his motives that she allows us to comprehend the sacrifice without ever asking that we accept the war. She takes us to the heart of a grieving family as it struggles to find meaning within calamity. Through a sweep of history and myth – both personal and universal – she gives insight into a tragedy so many Canadian families have experienced. In the end, we come to share her family’s understanding of Jeff’s quest for higher purpose. This is an evocative and poignant story, written with style and compassion.”
— Carol Off, author of The Lion, the Fox and the Eagle, The Ghosts of Medak Pocket and Bitter Chocolate
“A heartbreaking and harrowing account of war, For Your Tomorrow transcends the simplicity of usual conflict narratives. With clear-eyed but emotional engagement, Melanie Murray unearths the courage and savagery that define Afghanistan’s and all wars.”
— Kevin Patterson, co-editor of Outside the Wire and author of Consumption
"Personal and compelling.... Murray writes with a clean, accomplished style.... Fitting tribute to the memory of the...Canadians who've made the same decision."
—Winnipeg Free Press
"Both heart-rending and strangely affirming."
—Toronto Star
"Elegiac and lyrical. She reaches for the language to convey something utterly personal and, in the process, soars into the deeply profound.... A worthy volume not just for those searching for catharsis, but also for a nation looking to bear witness to the full measure of our soldiers' sacrifice."
—Quill & Quire (starred review)
Product Description
The Year of Magical Thinking meets Fifteen Days in this literary exploration of one Canadian's decision to enlist and go to war.
What compels a young, affluent Canadian to put on a uniform and risk his life for the controversial mission in Afghanistan? And how does his family cope with his loss when he is killed there? Jeff Francis was a thirty-year-old doctoral candidate and student of Buddhism when he decided that joining the armed forces was the best way to make a difference in the world. In elegant, spare prose that captures both the hardness of war and the nuances of a grieving family, Melanie Murray - Captain Francis's aunt - uses the lens of his life and death to give Canada's war in Afghanistan the perceptive, literary treatment its soldiers, families and citizens deserve.
What compels a young, affluent Canadian to put on a uniform and risk his life for the controversial mission in Afghanistan? And how does his family cope with his loss when he is killed there? Jeff Francis was a thirty-year-old doctoral candidate and student of Buddhism when he decided that joining the armed forces was the best way to make a difference in the world. In elegant, spare prose that captures both the hardness of war and the nuances of a grieving family, Melanie Murray - Captain Francis's aunt - uses the lens of his life and death to give Canada's war in Afghanistan the perceptive, literary treatment its soldiers, families and citizens deserve.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Not so Unlikely!,
This review is from: For Your Tomorrow: The Way of an Unlikely Soldier (Hardcover)
I found this story most captivating and Melanie Murray's account and treatment of it quite original and touching. I have read many accounts of soldiers who served in Afghanistan, both official and less so. This is the second account of one who died related by a relative that I have read . Though admittedly slow going at the outset, with the myriad of literary and philosophical quotes, it is quite unique as it gradually captures very well the mind-set of a very spiritual human being wrapped in the armour of a soldier in situations filled with horror and risks. As the story progresses, it evolves into a very real and deeply emotional account displaying great respect and detailed knowledge of some horrific events. It also covers well that phenomenon of proximity yet disconnect with loved ones at home brought about by the availability of modern communication technology. Why I have called my critique "Not so Unlikely" is because Captain Jeff Francis is very much like many of our all volunteer and reservist soldiers that I have encountered, in theatre and at home, who come forward to serve on operations such as this. They are far more educated and might I say knowledgeable and idealistic about that in which they are getting involved. Not all are in for a full career, but all take a serious pause in their lives to contribute where and when they can. Jeff's story is of such a spiritual and reflective warrior well told by a loving aunt. A must read.
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