The General and the Nightingale

Discover 'The General and the Nightingale', a compelling collection of war stories by Dan Davin, newly edited by Janet Wilson. This essential hardback edition from Otago University Press features 364 pages of rich narratives based on the real experiences of New Zealand soldiers during World War II. Each story offers profound insight into the lives of Kiwi and Anzac soldiers who served in the Mediterranean and African desert campaigns. Loosely inspired by Davin's own experiences as a scholar-soldier, these fictionalized accounts provide a unique perspective on warfare, camaraderie, and survival. A Rhodes Scholar and former intelligence officer, Davin's legacy as a war fiction author remains unmatched in New Zealand's literary history. This updated edition includes comprehensive notes, a glossary, a chronology, a detailed map of story locations, and an extensive introduction by Janet Wilson. Whether you're a war history enthusiast, a literature lover, or simply seeking an insightful read, 'The General and the Nightingale' is a must-have addition to your collection. Perfect for readers interested in historical fiction, Anzac stories, or the impact of war on society. Dive into Davin's world and explore the trials and tribulations faced by soldiers, encapsulated in striking prose. Get your copy today and experience the haunting beauty of Davin’s storytelling.

Authors: Dan Davin, Janet Wilson (Ed) Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: hardback
Dimensions: 138 x 210 mm
Pages: 364
Publication Date: 24-01-2020

Dan Davin was the author of the only substantial body of war fiction written by a New Zealand soldier during any of the wars of the 20th century in which the nation was engaged. The General and the Nightingale brings together Davin’s 20 war stories, some drawn from his war diaries and loosely based on his experiences as ‘a wartime scholar-soldier’ and those of his fellow soldiers in the British and New Zealand armies. They yield an unparalleled insight into the Kiwi or Anzac soldier at war during the Mediterranean and African desert campaigns of World War II. Editor Janet Wilson notes they can be read as ‘fictionalised accounts rather than imaginative fictions’. Born and raised in a working-class Catholic family in Southland, Davin was a Rhodes Scholar and had recently completed a degree at Oxford when he enlisted in the British Army in 1939. After receiving a commission in 1940 he successfully applied to be transferred to the New Zealand forces. He saw active service in Greece and North Africa, was wounded in Crete, and rose to become General Freyberg’s intelligence officer in the Italian campaign. The General and the Nightingale updates an earlier collection of Davin’s war stories published in 1986 as The Salamander in the Fire and long out of print. This new publication features comprehensive notes, a glossary, a chronology, a map of story locations, a bibliography and an extensive introduction by Janet Wilson. It is a companion volume to The Gorse Blooms Pale: Dan Davin’s Southland short stories (OUP, 2007), which is also being reissued.