Ford Madox Ford is one of those writers whose life spanned two centuries. He was born in 1873 and died in 1939. His novel ‘A Good Soldier: Story of Passion’ was written in 1915 and is listed as one of the great books of the 20th century. The original title of the novel was ‘The Saddest Story’. Its publishers suggest a different title since World War I was in progress. Out of the blue, Madox Ford suggests ‘The Good Soldier’ and the title found immediate acceptance by the publisher.
The Good Soldier is a story of love and passion. Critics are of the opinion that the novel is perhaps based on Madox Ford’s personal life in which she faced intrigue and adultery. The novel is set just before the start of World War I and tells the story of Edward Ashburnham, a soldier. Edward is the tragic figure of the novel even though he apparently has a happy married life. Along with Edward, Ford creates two American friends of Edward.
Madox Ford tells the story in a unique way. Incorporate flashbacks. These are not in any chronological order, but are part of Madox Ford’s style, which is unique to him. The story is told by an American John Dowell. Basically the novel narrates the sexual relations between two couples, one American and the other English. The story’s narrator, John Dowell, is the only person the reader can get close to, since he is the one telling the story. As the reader reads the book, the story develops a macabre atmosphere.
Madox through the narrator John Dowell gradually reveals a world that leads to madness, death and despair. In this sense, the novel is heavy reading. As the reader reads the book, Madox Ford brings out the many vicissitudes of life and the relationship that most dominates a man and a woman, sexual intercourse. The novel is a powerful statement of human life and after reading it one wonders if Madox Ford himself must have led a life in which his dream was not fulfilled.
The novel is not developed in a single sequence, but is divided into four parts, all of them interrelated.
The novel is a powerful statement on the life of Madox Ford. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked ‘The Good Soldier’ 30th on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Most critics rate it as one of the best novels written in the last century. Madox Ford collaborated with Thomas Hardy and also befriended Hemingway. One of his regrets was that he did not receive the recognition of these two worthies, although Hemingway did write a chapter about him meeting Madox in a restaurant in one of his books.
Madox spent the last years of his life at Olivet College in Michigan as a professor. He later died in Deauville, France. He was only 65 years old at the time.