Johnny Got His Gun
"A Book That Can Never Be Forgotten By Anyone Who Ever Reads It." -The Saturday Review
by Dalton Trumbo
Ace Star, 1959

CONDITION:
Fair early paperback printing, solid and unmarked, covers have significant edge wear and tear, spine creased, some markings.

ATTRIBUTES:
Mass market paperback. No dust jacket.

DESCRIPTION:
Dalton Trumbo's "Johnny Got His Gun" is a powerful anti-war novel that delves into the devastating physical and psychological toll of conflict. The story centers on Joe Bonham, an American soldier in World War 1 who awakens in a hospital bed to discover he has lost his arms, legs, and all his senses—sight, hearing, smell, and taste—due to an artillery shell blast. Trapped within his own mind, Joe's narrative unfolds through a stream-of-consciousness, interweaving his present, horrific reality with flashbacks of his past life, relationships, and innocent youth. The novel explores profound themes of isolation, helplessness, the absurdity of war, and the value of individual freedom, ultimately serving as a poignant and uncompromising anti-war statement.

Dalton Trumbo, born in Montrose, Colorado, in 1905, was a prolific American screenwriter and novelist. Before achieving fame, he worked nights at a bakery in Los Angeles to support his family, writing numerous short stories and novels, many of which were initially rejected. Trumbo became one of Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriters in the 1940s, contributing to films such as "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "Roman Holiday," and "Spartacus." His career was significantly impacted when he was blacklisted as one of the Hollywood Ten for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947, leading to an 11-month prison sentence.

"Johnny Got His Gun" holds significant literary and historical importance as a stark and profoundly disturbing pacifist novel. Published in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War 2, it quickly gained critical and public acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of war's brutality. The novel's powerful message resonated deeply, particularly during the Vietnam War era, when it was embraced by various social movements. Collectors find this book interesting not only for its enduring relevance as an anti-war classic but also due to Trumbo's personal history and his courageous stance against political persecution, which adds another layer of significance to his work.

FLASHBACK TO 1959 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED:
When this book was published in 1959, Fidel Castro's revolution swept Cuba, the United States launched its first spy satellite, and Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states. The cultural landscape was shifting with the release of *The Sound of Music* on Broadway and the emergence of Motown Records, while the Cold War continued to cast a long shadow with ongoing tensions in Berlin. This was also a time when blacklisted writers like Dalton Trumbo were beginning to re-emerge in Hollywood.

Location: 01-02-01-1405