A Separate Peace

A Separate Peace

Author: John Knowles
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Lydia

A Separate Peace is a quiet classic; it is a spooky story that explores the darkness of youth between two best friends in the year of 1942. Set against the backdrop of World War Two, the story makes connections between the often tumultuous transition between childhood and adulthood, innocence and maturity.

The book chronicles the friendship of two teenagers at an elite boarding school in New Hampshire: introspective Gene who plays by the rules and conforms to society’s standards, and Phineas, known as Finny, who is a carefree and adventurous daredevil. From the beginning of the novel it is apparent that Finny has a sort of hold over Gene; he tries to exert his influence and make Gene a more fun and outgoing person who skips class and jumps out of trees. Even though they are best friends, Gene begins to resent Finny, who is popular, magnetic, and excels at everything he does.

In a crucial moment, everything changes. While taking part in a boyhood game Gene acts upon his impulsive jealousy and deliberately wounds Finny. The rest of the novel explores the relationship between the two boys, Gene’s guilt, anxiety, and fear, and the war as a backdrop asserting its influence over the story.

This book, the only bestseller by author John Knowles, is stunning in its unflinching look at the relationship—both the good and the bad—between two best friends. The narrative is easy to follow, and Knowles’ description of Devon School and its lush surroundings is superb. The novel is a quick read, but the message, the characters, and the raw act of violence will remain with you for a long time after the final page.