A collective & individual history amid war.

It is a novel has several levels. That's what makes it exciting. This is firstly a war novel framework for a World War. We learn that the SOE - espionage Service English - French civilians enlisted - for training in sabotage and propaganda in the occupied territories. This is true for France and other countries.

We follow a group of young French during their training to the war actions on French territory (Paris, Lyon, The maquis).

Each character has broken the family pact. We follow in the first part a character. His name is PAL. He left his father to go to the SOE. His father is the weak link that will lose. So we are following the entire group and what surprises is its insousiance, gestures of comradeship, brotherhood of the group to retreat to maturity of war. PAL will also live a love story that is the promise of a possible next day.
Finally, there was the story of the war and the field operations, the group breaks out but is found in London between two personalities missions.Les say for better or for worse.

Some will not return because death has taken them. this part is moving. This novel made me think the superb movie "journey into hell" where we follow a group before, during and after the war. This is to tell you all the good that I think the novel.