Are you familiar with other novels where WWI is portrayed from the point of view of a citizen of the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Does this perspective make the story feel different from those told from the Allied side?

The Winter Soldier is a story of World War I from the perspective of a citizen of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Are you familiar with other novels where WWI is portrayed from this point-of-view, and if so, which? Does this perspective make the story feel different from those told from the Allied side, and if so, how?

All Quiet on the Western Front is a classic novel of an alternate (not the American or Allied) point of view. There are always two sides in a war, and innocent people of all ages are always killed. Aside from evil leaders who start the hate mongering and lead countries into war, it is helpful to remember that the vast majority of people want the same thing- a place to live, enough food for their families, opportunities to make life a little easier, freedom from fear.

I too thought of All Quiet. I really liked the perspective of the alternate point of view. The different perspective made me want to delve more into the before and after of the Austrian Empire history.

this was my first novel about WWI from the Austro Hungarian civilian perspective. The various ethnic people in the empire intrigued me. We all know of the Arch Duke’s assasination as the catalyst. The story as told from the perspective of Pokes fascinated me. I want to learn more. In particular the study of war time Medicine during the early part of the 20th Century showed the huge advancements from the time of the American Civil War & Crimea.

I have heard of All Quiet on the Western Front but confess to not having read it or even seen the movie. I did just listen to a BBC radio program earlier today called Letters to the Russian Front which is about an Austrian family with three sons who were in WW2 and only one survived. This is a true story taken from the letters the family members wrote to each other. Listening to this helped me realize that even those we would consider the enemy are just people who love each other and live and die just like the rest of us.Sounds a bit simplistic to say, but it was very moving.

This is the first novel I've read where WWI is portrayed from the POV of a citizen of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. I enjoyed learning about events from a different perspective.

I too thought of All Quiet. Getting the perspective of "the other side" is interesting, but more to the point, the experiences and the sufferings are just the same, no matter which side is doing the telling.

Unfotunately I have not read many books about WWI which is why I wanted to read this book. I had to slow myself down a few times and re-read parts to make sure I wasn't confusing who was who.

This was a strongly written and engaging novel. Hearing the story from another side is greatly helpful in understanding the conflict and all the things that were wrong about it. I thought of "All Quiet" as well. A good book to read to understand what brought Europeans to this awful mess (which in turn led to WWII because WWI wasn't settled) is The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman.

No I haven't, this is my first but won't be my last.