Dive Into the Humorous Wartime Love Story of Dick and Jane

Photo by The Australian War Memorial on Unsplash
Stephen Lloyd Auslender has yet again impressed his readers with another unique story. After his debut novel’s success, Stephen has finished his next quest into romance.
Dick and Jane Go to War isn’t on grandmothers’ typical list, nor is it the conventional romance found in most girls’ bookshelves. Instead, it’s an engrossing juxtaposition of wartime’s unsettling, brutal realities and the comforting innocence of romance. It’s romance blooming at humanity’s darkest times—a concept that captivates any reader.
But above this, what makes the humorous wartime love story of Dick and Jane so delightful?
A Peek Into Dick and Jane’s Journey
Love and war are two extremes of a spectrum. Yet, as immensely contradictory as they are, both are still commonly and quite beautifully connected. The reason is their similarities: both are known to have a level of destructiveness in them, and apparently, as reflected in Stephen Lloyd Auslender’s wartime love story, both can also be agents sparking one another.
Love can be the cause of war, and at the same time, war can be the perfect event to spark love. It seems unlikely given the circumstances, yet as with Stephen Lloyd’s narrative, it’s still possible.
The wartime love story of Dick and Jane explores the rough realities of war, where lovers are forced to be separated as society explodes into chaos. The story follows a spoiled executive, Reginald (Dick), who’s thrust into disarray and further becomes challenged when he crosses paths with a lovely yet equally headstrong woman. He then experiences a reality where he should not only protect himself and his country but also his heart and his blooming romance with Vivian (Jane).
A Chance Encounter with Fate
At the heart of the best war romance novels is an unforgettable meet-cute, where characters find light in each other amidst the darkest corners of humanity. In the wartime love story of Dick and Jane, their first encounter was nothing short of passionate, as they met surrounded by the commonality they had, the things they both immensely loved—aircraft and flying.
Meeting at the 1908 Paris Air Show was metaphorical, for these aircraft would soon be a vital element in their romance, an object that would symbolize their love.

Dick and Jane’s Bitter Yet Magical Romance
As World War I broke out, both became fighter pilots for their countries, each flying an aircraft for their countries. The one thing that sparked their romance became the thing separating them. The war forced their romance to a standstill. Flying those aircraft meant they had to partake in a battle they shouldn’t face each other in.
From then on, readers get a glimpse of the internal and external conflicts elevating the story. They would’ve already foreseen why the wartime love story of Dick and Jane would be intense.
Dick and Jane Go to War may be a humorous wartime love story but at the crux of it lies the wondrous and wounding nature of love. It showcases how powerful the emotion can be. It chooses no time to take place, and, often, timing can be cruel.
But will love be enough to overcome everything?
The passionate and humorous romance of Dick and Jane becomes a testament to the triumphant power of love. What they go through will break and mend readers’ hearts as their love finds a way to soar above despite the darkest times.
Love, Not War: The Delight of a Wartime Love Story
The wartime love story of Dick and Jane is proof of how much readers love drama. The higher the stakes are, the more gripping the stories will be. This feeds into the curiosity and pleasure of readers. High stakes in wartime love stories are the anchors that make readers rooted in the book. These make them unable to quench their thirst unless they discover what happens next.
Stephen Lloyd Auslender has taken the potential of war-torn love stories and remastered it in Dick and Jane Go to War. He understood what makes wartime love stories ultimate page-turners and sprinkled a bit of humor to elevate an already enjoyable read.
The war and chaos in the story make it a challenging read, a subversive commentary on the dehumanizing nature of war. But the romance between Dick and Jane adds a jarring contrast to this. Love and war are the most contrasting concepts. Love is about building connections, while war is about breaking those. However, war love story books showcase how intertwined both are. Exploring the connection between them is as complex as it is interesting.
Why Readers Still Love Such Stories Today
Readers have seen the connection between love and war throughout the history of literature. This is best reflected in ancient Greek mythology or romance classics that triumph over family rivalries. This might make the theme overused, a repeated concept that should’ve lost its magic. But it still catches readers’ intrigue.
Why?
At the very core of every wartime love story is the reminder that human emotions are powerful, so much so that they can cause chaos or heal the broken. Stories that cross war and love likewise showcase the beauty of literature and how complex such tales can get.
How about you?
Can you handle reading a wartime love story like Dick and Jane’s? If you’re interested in testing the genre out, grab a copy of Stephen Lloyd Auslender’s Dick and Jane Go to War now!

Stephen Llyod Auslender
I'm Stephen Lloyd Auslender, a sculptor and mechanical designer with a background in industrial design and a Ph.D. in creative arts. I've spent over 50 years teaching and creating, blending comedy and tragedy in my work.