Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
Stephen Lloyd Auslender’s humorous wartime love story, Dick and Jane Go to War, is not your typical novel taking place during one of humanity’s most pivotal historical periods. This novel has a whimsical and hilarious streak. It has hints of romance here and there, but it takes a surprisingly mature perspective on a lot of things, even World War I.
A Humorous Story: Dick and Jane Go to War
The Dick and the Jane in the novel are, respectively, British aristocrat Reginald and Austrian countess Vivian, two members of the upper crust of their respective countries, who had a timely and explosive encounter with one another during the 1908 Paris Air Show. Pulled together and tied down by their shared fascination with the new field of aviation, a passionate and immediate romance comes blooming. However, for all you history buffs out there, their relationship goes through a bumpy ride when the First World War breaks out–and they find themselves on opposite sides!
The humorous story that the novel portrays extends beyond just the protagonist’s entertaining lives. Auslender also satirizes the bureaucratic absurdities of wartime, the rigidity of the era’s social relations, and the often–if not always–contradictory nature of patriotism and duty. There is a solid underpinning that while war may be seen as a particularly noble endeavor, it was anything but a chaotic and farcical series of events that everyone sort of just is drawn to–willingly or not!

Photo by Steve Cormie
A Funny Tale About Growing Up
While Reginald and Vivian’s love story is all tangled up with nonsense–both literal and figurative–their experiences are the throughline of the narrative. While Auslender depicts the inherent chaos of war in the background, the romance between the two protagonists offers a tender and more humane counterpoint to the grim realities of the battlefield.
Dick and Jane Go to War isn’t only a depiction of World War I from a specific perspective or two. It’s also a huge testament to how love endures and how humanity endures even in the face of profound destruction and madness.
Through Auslender’s witty prose and imaginative storytelling, you will grow up together with Reginald and Vivian.
The Serious Parts of Dick and Jane Go to War
The novel is replete with seriousness amidst the hilarity. While humor is important in the foundation of the story, Auslender does not shy away from the reality of the period he specifically chose to set the narrative in. The loss of life, the physical and psychological trauma that war imposes, and the enduring impact of the conflict are all poignantly portrayed.
War is terrible. People lose people during it. Losing friends, comrades, and family members- regardless of which side one is on- is shown in a very sympathetic manner and with the respect such a monumental event deserves.
When you go on vacations, you get souvenirs–but in war, you get trauma, and Auslender masterfully explores the lasting experiences of the soldiers who were forged through combat.

Photo by Marina Leonova
The Laugh-Out-Loud Bits of Dick and Jane Go to War
Dick and Jane Go to War is predominantly a humorous story. This is especially present in its satirical portrayal of patriotism and duty. Despite their love for their respective countries, Reginald and Vivian find themselves in a snarling mass that they cannot truly comprehend and/or even support. It’s a war–and war is seldom a good thing! Looking through their eyes, the insanity of blindly patriotism and nationalism and just simply doing orders because you should stretches to its most logical and absurd conclusion!
Another key factor of amusement is the novel’s interplay of language and cultural differences. Misunderstandings and miscommunications between people of different nationalities, including the protagonists Reginald and Vivian, are the bread-and-butter of humor in Dick and Jane Go to War.
A Humorous Story for All
Stephen Lloyd Auslender’s Dick and Jane Go to War is a unique and thought-provoking piece of work, blending humor, history and romance. This is not only a testament to the horrors of war. This is also a treatise on the indomitable human spirit. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a copy now and laugh out loud, cry out loud, and plainly learn how to enjoy life and love.