The Red Cross girls with the Stars and Stripes

The Story

Barbara Thornton, a young wife and mother living a charmed life in New York, finds her world upended when her husband, Richard, decides to join the war effort. Driven by a sense of duty, she leaves her child in the care of family and returns to France to resume her service as a Red Cross nurse. She is joined by her friend Nona Davis and several others, including the stoic Madame Eugenia Castaigne, who manages a hospital converted from a private country estate. The narrative moves through the daily landscape of the war: the rhythmic work of the wards, the sight of American troops arriving in French villages, and the presence of "tanks" that lumber like prehistoric monsters across the countryside.

The emotional core of the story centers on the discovery of Captain Henri Castaigne, Eugenia’s husband, who has been missing and presumed lost. He is found in a shattered state, suffering from a loss of memory that leaves him unable to recognize his wife. This tragedy creates a profound shift in the nurses' lives, as they must balance the heavy demands of medical care with the personal agony of seeing their friend endure such a profound, lingering grief. Meanwhile, the nurses form new alliances. Nona, the group’s interpreter, navigates a complex social web that includes a cynical American journalist named Philip Dawson and a wounded First Lieutenant named Martin, who experiences a period of intense, fragile convalescence.

As the war grinds toward its uncertain conclusion, these personal threads begin to resolve. Richard Thornton makes a brief appearance during a leave of absence, providing a moment of domestic stability amidst the chaos. Captain Castaigne, slowly recovering, eventually reunites with his wife, though the reunion is marked by the painful distance his amnesia has created. The narrative culminates not with a grand battle, but with the quiet, persistent duty of the nurses. Nona receives a romantic letter delivered by a carrier pigeon—a symbolic relic of an older world—which forces her to re-evaluate her own future and heart. The book ends on a note of transition: the war is a "strange paradox" that has left its permanent mark on the Americans who came to serve, leaving them to look toward a future of rebuilding and the hope for lasting world peace.

How It Unfolds

The call to service Barbara Thornton faces the painful decision to leave her husband and infant behind to rejoin the Red Cross in France. Her departure marks the end of her comfortable domestic life and initiates the central conflict of the story: the struggle to reconcile personal love with a larger, national obligation.

Arrival in France The nurses arrive at a hospital managed by Eugenia Castaigne, settling into a life defined by strict routines and the constant proximity of the front. They encounter the harsh realities of war-torn villages, where children play with makeshift flags and soldiers prepare for the grim work of the trenches.

The discovery of the lost A pivotal shift occurs when the group identifies a broken, suffering soldier as the long-missing Captain Castaigne. His arrival forces the women to confront the limits of their medical knowledge and the heartbreaking persistence of trauma that defies simple recovery.

Navigating the social web Amidst their duties, the nurses engage with officers, journalists, and local French citizens, forming bonds that are tested by rumors of espionage and the inherent instability of wartime relationships. Nona, in particular, finds her perspective on loyalty and love transformed through her interactions with a persistent American correspondent and a wounded lieutenant.

The final march The narrative concludes with the sight of American troops marching toward the front, a silent, disciplined force moving into the unknown. The story fades as the nurses look toward the sunrise, acknowledging that their work—and the war itself—has fundamentally altered their understanding of their own country and their place in the world.

The People

Barbara Thornton is the story’s emotional anchor; she begins as an anxious young mother and matures into a capable, executive leader who manages the morale of her peers. Her growth is marked by her ability to move past the selfishness of her own heartache toward a broader sense of duty. Nona Davis serves as the group’s inquisitive, spirited interpreter. She is observant and fair-minded, acting as the bridge between the American volunteers and the French people they serve. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to look past first impressions—whether of the unhandsome Philip Dawson or the seemingly fickle Lieutenant Martin—to find substance in the people around her. Eugenia Castaigne represents the stoic, tragic figure of the war. Her grace in the face of her husband’s amnesia defines the book’s exploration of endurance and the "miracle of love." Finally, the supporting figures like the humorous Philip Dawson and the persistent Lieutenant Martin provide the necessary friction to push these women toward their own realizations, each forced to choose between the fleeting emotions of the moment and the deeper commitments of their convictions.

In Its Own Voice

"Barbara herself was dressed in a thin, white china silk, as if she were expecting guests."

This description of Barbara at the beginning of the book highlights the stark, almost fragile contrast between her privileged New York life and the war-torn environment she is about to re-enter.

"There were about twenty of them, all children save one."

This observation, made as the nurses watch a group of French war orphans kneeling before American soldiers, captures the pervasive, heartbreaking innocence lost to the conflict.

"I have been in Europe, in one country and another, almost ever since this war began and I have seen a lot of this barbed wire work, so I was interested to find out how well our American boys were learning the business."

The pragmatic, slightly detached tone of Philip Dawson, a correspondent, underscores the transition from the romanticized ideals of the home front to the cold, mechanical reality of the battlefield.

What It's Really About

The central theme of the book is the heavy toll that global conflict exacts on the individual spirit. It argues that war is not merely a matter of battlefields, but a total experience that reshapes domestic life, tests the strength of marriages, and demands a new kind of "modern" identity for women. The narrative explores the tension between duty and personal desire, suggesting that one’s commitment to a larger cause often requires the sacrifice of personal peace. It also touches upon the "paradox" of war—the idea that a world can be torn apart through violence while those involved in the effort are simultaneously working toward the hope of a permanent, lasting peace, casting the Red Cross volunteers as the necessary, humanizing force in an otherwise dehumanized landscape.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical fiction that focuses on the domestic and social ripples of war will find this a fascinating, if dated, experience. Because it was written in 1917, the book captures a very specific, earnest brand of American patriotism that feels distinct to the early twentieth century. Modern readers should be prepared for the period-typical language and a narrative pace that favors introspective dialogue over rapid-fire action. The attitudes toward gender, duty, and the "modern woman" are clearly grounded in the 1910s, offering a genuine glimpse into the mindset of the era rather than a modern interpretation.

The book’s strength lies in its warmth and its focus on the collective experience of its female protagonists. It feels less like a war thriller and more like a series of sketches about resilience and friendship under pressure. What stays with you is the quiet, persistent humanity of the nurses—the way they organize concerts to boost morale, the way they care for the injured, and the way they try to hold onto their own identities while caught in a global tragedy. It is a gentle, sincere read that serves as a quiet monument to the volunteers of the Great War.