Kessel has written classics. This story written in the 1920s has not aged as the characters are dense, modern and very rhythmic and sustained writing style. I read this book, there are thirty - 15 years- I was perhaps a bit too young for this reading imposed by the curriculum but in 45 years it was a happy rediscovery. Furthermore the middle of the observation aircraft during the GG is very well Rendu Kessel is a veteran of the air-it was a plus for me as "passionate" by that time.