A Long Long Way Themes

A Long Long Way is a coming-of-age narrative about Willie Dunne, a young man from Dublin, Ireland, who joins the British Army at the age of 18 to fight in World War I. At the beginning of the novel, Willie is naïve and doesn’t yet “[know] his own mind.” In other words, Willie hasn’t formed his own opinions about the world and thus, the novel suggests, isn’t yet an adult. Instead, he unquestioningly adopts…

A Long Long Way unflinchingly depicts the gruesome violence of war and the damaging effects it has on soldiers. The novel’s protagonist, Willie Dunne, is a member of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in World War I. On the Western Front, Willie undergoes terrible suffering alongside thousands of other young men like him. In trenches, soldiers face starvation, sickness, and unending danger from bullets and bombs. Machine guns and massive artillery cause devastating human casualties…

As a historical novel, A Long Long Way incorporates into its narrative many historical events that took place in Ireland during World War I. At the turn of the 20th century, all of Ireland belonged to the United Kingdom, and Home Rule—the issue of Ireland’s self-governance—was a major source of tension in the country. Unionists were loyal to British rule, while nationalists desired freedom from it. Moreover, the nationalist movement split between followers of…

While Willie Dunne fights on the Western Front during World War I, he takes heart in stories, songs, and prayers. Stories help keep his fear at bay and connect him to his fellow soldiers. Songs are like a healing balm to him, and he finds solace in singing with his comrades. Prayers led by Father Buckley strengthen Willie, bring him courage, and offer him glimpses of hope and meaning even in dark, gruesome battlefields. Willie…