About the Book

The first book published by author Thomas Boyd, about the experiences of a young American Marine during World War I. The book gained immediate critical acclaim upon its publication, with F. Scott Fitzgerald calling it “a work of art” and “arresting.”

“Through the Wheat records the experiences of William Hicks of the marines, who never distinguished himself, but who never flinched....The effect of attack after attack, numberless tragedies day after day, unceasing danger, was to deaden his senses completely. His companions concluded, not without reason, that he was mad. He wandered about under fire with perfect composure—not because he was more brave than his fellows, but because he was psychologically dead....Thomas Boyd [has written] the least partisan and the most brilliant of doughboy reminiscences.”

“A remarkable first novel.”