Fighting with French: A Tale of the New Army

"Fighting with French: A Tale of the New Army" by Herbert Strang is a historical novel that follows young men like Kenneth Amory and Harry Randall as they join the British Army during World War I. The story shows their journey as they get ready for war, highlighting what it means to be patriotic, the bonds they form with each other, and how war changes people and the world around them. The book starts with Kenneth thinking about signing up while recovering from an illness and runs into his old adventurous friend, Harry, who is back from Canada and ready to fight. Harry pushes Kenneth to join him and other friends from school, creating a feeling of needing to act fast and make the hard choice to enlist. The novel looks at the emotional struggles and reasons behind why these young men are ready to fight for their country as they deal with friendships and their place in the new army.