By Melissa Khan
A friend who knows how much I enjoy dark academia recommended me this book, and I was sold instantly. The story begins with Gene, a man in his thirties reflecting on his time at a New Hampshire all-boys boarding school in the midst of World War II, seeking forgiveness for the role he played in the tragic event that occurred the summer before his senior year.
That summer Gene and his best friend Phineas become closer than ever. Finny, the undisputed leader of their duo, holds a strong influence over Gene. He’s charming, athletic, and universally loved, all things Gene is not, and Gene can seldom resist him. In a clouded moment of jealousy and frustration, Gene makes a decision that betrays his friendship with Phineas and burdens him with a secret guilt that he is forced to carry.
I had such a good time reading this book and believe it’s an American classic for a reason. The darkness is so subtle that you almost can’t tell it’s there. Gene and Phineas’ friendship survives the events by the river, but it’s clear that the power dynamics, though not shifted, have changed. Rather than Gene’s obedience coming from his love for Phineas, it derives from fear. His need to prove his loyalty leads Gene to go along with Phineas’s wildest requests. For instance, Gene trains diligently for the 1944 Olympics at Phineas’s insistence, as Finny believes the war is a hoax.
This in particular stood out to me because it’s clear how blind Gene’s loyalty is to Phineas, and how strong his determination is to prove their friendship. Although he knows and believes in the reality of the war, Gene allows Phineas to continue the belief that it is all an elaborate lie. I think it’s clear as readers what the true motivation is behind Phineas’ belief, and we are proven correct later in the novel, but this revelation comes as a surprise to Gene. This loyalty also causes Gene to become defensive against his fellow classmates when the question of what truly happened that day by the river arises, and Phineas himself is confronted again by Gene’s unfathomable actions.
Although quite simple, the language is beautiful and easy to follow. I loved most the languid flow of the prose, leaning into the haziness of summer and the chill of the subsequent winter. The effect of war on these young men is shown brilliantly through the backdrop of World War II. The struggle they face between finding their role in the fight, and choosing between enlisting and the draft, leads to poignant moments and reflections.
I think at times the subtlety that we see in this novel can cause the point to be missed entirely. And I think for that it does this story a disservice. But this story was so beautiful, and the title A Separate Peace incredibly apt. I urge anyone with literary appreciation to read this novel.