"Those Who Smiled" by Perceval Gibbon is a compilation of short stories that explores intense emotions amidst war and hardship, as seen through the eyes of soldiers enforcing control. The book starts with Captain Hahn, a symbol of German military power, and Lieutenant Jovannic, a thoughtful Austrian, overseeing the capture of a forced laborer. While Hahn focuses on maintaining order and effectiveness, Jovannic becomes increasingly disturbed by the quiet resistance of the villagers and the prisoner, whose calm acceptance suggests a strength that challenges the occupiers' brutal efficiency. This opening tale examines themes of power, moral responsibility, and the amazing capacity of the human spirit to endure even under oppressive conditions.
Those Who Smiled, and Eleven Other Stories
By Perceval Gibbon
In a world of military might, the quiet smiles of subjugated people unnerve an officer, hinting at a resistance deeper than any force can crush.
Summary
About the Author
Perceval Gibbon was an author and journalist, serving for the Rand Daily Mail in South Africa, as well as for other publications. Gibbon had travelled to South Africa in 1898, moved to the war front and became the representative of a syndicate of colonial newspapers at the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. He is best remembered for his short stories, which often contained an ironic twist at the end. Gibbon's influence on the work of later South African authors has been acknowledged. For instance, the fictional narrator of Vrouw Grobelaar's Leading Cases (1905) is said to be a forerunner of Herman Charles Bosman's character Oom Schalk Lourens.
Perceval Gibbon was an author and journalist, serving for the Rand Daily Mail in South Africa, as well as for other publications. Gibbon had travelled to South Africa in 1898, moved to the war front and became the representative of a syndicate of colonial newspapers at the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. He is best remembered for his short stories, which often contained an ironic twist at the end. Gibbon's influence on the work of later South African authors has been acknowledged. For instance, the fictional narrator of Vrouw Grobelaar's Leading Cases (1905) is said to be a forerunner of Herman Charles Bosman's character Oom Schalk Lourens.
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