A review by elj_ne
Despised And Rejected by Rose Allatini

5.0

A really great, readable classic. The author makes a great case for pacifism within a beautifully written novel about the onset of the first World War (the fact this was published in 1918 and the characters are arguing the war will not end all wars but spawn worse ones!). The two main characters in particular are intriguing and well written, and though they’re both gay and kind of tragic, they’re no more tragic than the rest of the non-queer characters, who are all subject to the horrors of war somehow. Despite the tragic nature of the subject material, it never feels too gloomy and is infused with hope planted there by the characters who refuse to partake in the war effort. Definitely a new favourite.