Overview

Includes a New Afterword by the Author A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice A USA Today Best Book of 2007 A Christian Science Monitor Best Book of 2007 What does it mean to teach literature to a soldier? How does it prepare a young man or woman for combat? At West Point, Elizabeth Samet reads classic and modern works of literature with America's future military elite, and in this stirring memoir she chronicles the ways in which war has transformed her relationship to the books she and her students read together. While fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, Samet's former students share their thoughts on the poetry of Wallace Stevens, the fiction of Virginia Woolf and J. M. Coetzee, the epics of Homer, and the films of Bogart and Cagney. And their letters in turn prompt Samet to wonder exactly what she owes to cadets in the classroom. Soldier's Heart is an honest and original reflection on the relationship between art and life.

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9780312427825

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Reviews

A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. --Robert Pinsky, The New York Times Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. --Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. --Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. --John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. --Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. Robert Pinsky, The New York Times Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. --Robert Pinsky, The New York Times Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. --Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. --Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. --John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. --Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor An exhilarating read. -- The Washington Post Book World Fascinating . . . I know of no other new book that's a better choice for any reading group that loves to debate literature and politics. -- USA Today It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldiers are in [Samet's] hands. -- The Christian Science Monitor Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. As a civilian professor at West Point, Samet has spent ten years teaching Shakespeare's sonnets and Emerson's essays to future warriors destined for the uncertain moral and physical terrain of Iraq. Her experience offers insight into the value of literature and the nature of soldiering, but most of all it offers a glimpse into the hidden mysteries of the human heart. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Years of Wonder Not since John Gardner's On Moral Fiction has the intersection of literature and morality been so powerfully examined, but in Soldier's Heart the examination occurs in the conscience of a teacher whose students are en route to war. This is a thoughtful, moving, but also troubling book--exactly as it should be. --James Carroll, author of House of War and An American Requiem Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran , Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. As a civilian professor at West Point, Samet has spent ten years teaching Shakespeare's sonnets and Emerson's essays to future warriors destined for the uncertain moral and physical terrain of Iraq. Her experience offers insight into the value of literature and the nature of soldiering, but most of all it offers a glimpse into the hidden mysteries of the human heart. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Years of Wonder Not since John Gardner's On Moral Fiction has the intersection of literature and morality been so powerfully examined, but in Soldier's Heart the examination occurs in the conscience of a teacher whose students are en route to war. This is a thoughtful, moving, but also troubling book--exactly as it should be. --James Carroll, author of House of War and An American Requiem

A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. --Robert Pinsky, The New York Times Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. --Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. --Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. --John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. --Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor

A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. --Robert Pinsky, The New York Times <br> Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. --Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today <br> Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders <br> Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. --Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. --John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. --Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor

A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. --Robert Pinsky, The New York Times<br><br> Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. --Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today<br><br> Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders<br><br> Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. --Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. --John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. --Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor

A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. --Robert Pinsky, The New York Times Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. --Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. --Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. --John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. --Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. Robert Pinsky, The New York Times Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. --Robert Pinsky, The New York Times Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. --Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. --Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. --John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the liberal arts can do much to steer [soldier's] to more thoughtful deliberations. . . . It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldier's are in such hands. --Marjorie Kehe, The Christian Science Monitor An exhilarating read. -- The Washington Post Book World Fascinating . . . I know of no other new book that's a better choice for any reading group that loves to debate literature and politics. -- USA Today It's reassuring just to think that the hearts and minds of young soldiers are in [Samet's] hands. -- The Christian Science Monitor Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. As a civilian professor at West Point, Samet has spent ten years teaching Shakespeare's sonnets and Emerson's essays to future warriors destined for the uncertain moral and physical terrain of Iraq. Her experience offers insight into the value of literature and the nature of soldiering, but most of all it offers a glimpse into the hidden mysteries of the human heart. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Years of Wonder Not since John Gardner's On Moral Fiction has the intersection of literature and morality been so powerfully examined, but in Soldier's Heart the examination occurs in the conscience of a teacher whose students are en route to war. This is a thoughtful, moving, but also troubling book--exactly as it should be. --James Carroll, author of House of War and An American Requiem Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran , Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. As a civilian professor at West Point, Samet has spent ten years teaching Shakespeare's sonnets and Emerson's essays to future warriors destined for the uncertain moral and physical terrain of Iraq. Her experience offers insight into the value of literature and the nature of soldiering, but most of all it offers a glimpse into the hidden mysteries of the human heart. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Years of Wonder Not since John Gardner's On Moral Fiction has the intersection of literature and morality been so powerfully examined, but in Soldier's Heart the examination occurs in the conscience of a teacher whose students are en route to war. This is a thoughtful, moving, but also troubling book--exactly as it should be. --James Carroll, author of House of War and An American Requiem

A thoughtful, attentive, stereotype-breaking book about [Samet's] ten years as a civilian teacher of literature at the Military Academy. --Robert Pinsky, The New York Times <br> Absolutely fascinating. Never has Tolstoy or Homer seemed more relevant. --Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today <br> Like Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran, Elizabeth D. Samet's Soldier's Heart is an illuminating look at the use of literature by a group of young people in an uncommon predicament. --Geraldine Brooks, author of March and Year of Wonders <br> Strong, deeply articulate . . . I hope her work finds its way to more than a few Capitol Hill nightstands. --Alexander C. Kafka, Chicago Tribune An exhilarating read. It seats you in the classroom of a feisty professor . . . elbow-to-elbow with an elite crop of students whose intelligence and imagination match their courage. --John Beckman, The Washington Post Book World [Samet] make[s] a compelling case that the values embodied in the

Author Information

Elizabeth D. Samet is the author of Willing Obedience: Citizens, Soldiers, and the Progress of Consent in America, 1776-1898. She has been an English professor at West Point for ten years.

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