Although written as a novel the events of the Ardennes offensive have been a defining characteristic for the author's life. He has succeeded in communicating to the reader an anti-war story which has grown out of his own experiences. The story does not remain in the simple reproduction of inhuman scenes but goes further into the realm of humane thought and rejection of the hate which accompanies war. As a result of current political events the author feels obliged, in his advanced years, to demonstrate how intertwined daily life and guilt can be. He does this in recognition of the fact that increasingly more powers in our society are trying to propel us to subtle mechanisms of violence in all aspects of our lives. The events which can occur in such an environment as the battle of the bulge demonstrate to the author both: how high human nature can rise and also how deep it can sink.