Soldiers of France

This book is based on a realistic, complete dream the author had in Bayeux in (2008) . It is narrated by an old, old veteran of WWI to his great granddaughter in about 1988. Local and French color and attitudes.
Drafted French soldiers are gathered in La Rochelle in 1915. They are not enthusiastic about going to war. The shy, awkward, country boy is jealous of the popular, Jackie Gleason-type soldier in his unit who makes money on the black market and is a gourmand and raconteur. The boy betrays him to the authorities, and the man is brought before the court on the day the unit is to be put aboard busses for the short ride to the train station. The shy character sets up a cry to wait for Louie and the man appears accompanied by two policemen. He has bribed his way out and is going to the front with his comrades. There are scenes at the front in 1916 when all are gas-blinded and surrounded in the fighting at Verdun; Louie rallies the men’s spirits in a heroic and black-humorous manner.
After the war the boy reverts to type, betrays the man again, but is forgiven by him.