Gene Wilder, My French Whore

My French Whore

Gene Wilder

St. Martin's, Mar 2007, $18.95

ISBN: 0312360576

In 1918, in Milwaukee, Paul Peachy wonders if that is all there is to life as he nears thirty. His work as a train conductor is boring; his marriage has no spark; and he is just tired of achieving nothingness. Thus Paul, who has not seen much beyond Wisconsin and tracks, enlists in the military.

In France, Paul offers the military one skill or else he would be just another expendable unknown soldier. His company commander Captain Harrington wants Paul, who speaks German, to interrogate spy Harry Stroller, expecting his country to lose soon and unable to cope with his loneliness and ennui, surrendered to the allies. Sent to the front, Paul flees the battle only to be captured by the German army. He insists that he is master spy Harry Stroller and soon meets and convinces Colonel Steinig that he is a German agent; his host introduces him to French hooker Annie Breton. They share a wonderful tryst until Paul realizes Harrington is a prisoner. He arranges for his former commander to escape, but stays behind to be with his beloved prostitute though he knows the gig will be up soon.

This is an entertaining WWI romance starring an interesting lead male. The common thread of the warriors from both sides of the battle is languor with risk taking becoming the norm just to bring some excitement into their lives. Readers will appreciate Gene Wilder's fine tale of love in the trenches.

Harriet Klausner