The book is about a man, named Noon at the beginning, who fought in World War I, but has lost his memory. He has spent the four years following the war in an asylum while waiting to be found by his family. Every woman he meets, desperate to believe he is her long-lost husband, fills him with so much angst at their disappointment, that he demands to be left alone. But one woman would not be denied, Julienne Coppens. She demands he see her and to his shock she declares him her long-long Amand, even identifying a mole under the hair on his head.
With great trepidation, he goes home to Belgium with her. The novel continues telling the story of the following year in which they become reacquainted. As can be assumed, lots of hesitation and misunderstandings ensue as well as a blossoming of genuine love. Although his entire family and their home were lost in the war, Julie has started a new life in a new town and together they work to build the fledgling photography business she runs. Yet Amand never remembers a single moment. And Julie is clearly lying about some of the details. Their trust is on shaky ground.
Over time, Amand starts to experience moments as a different man. He feels like he is slipping into a psychotic break down. The lost time is happening more frequently, for longer periods, and he is often volatile and dangerous in these states. In addition, he is suffering from extreme "shell shock" and frequently dreams of the horrors he witnessed. A yellow woman with long, blond hair haunts those dreams. Is she death itself? Eventually Julienne and Amand make a plan for when the "other man" fully consumes him and he becomes, once again, a total stranger. They will reestablish their relationship with a collection of photos and letters and force him to live as her husband, Amand.
As expected, one day Amand becomes "Louis" and seems incapable of returning to his old self. He insists he is married to Kathe, a German woman with long, blond hair. He can't remember exactly where he is from, but he becomes increasingly angry with the strange woman, Julie, who claims to be his wife. Even the letters and photographs which were supposed to prove he was her husband Amand make him angry and suspicious. After a few weeks of increasing turmoil, Julie buys Amand a train ticket to a town in Germany that he senses is his home. Off he goes with a suitcase, some food, a few francs, and a destination. He arrives in a war-torn, highly impoverished nation where his money is no good, his suitcase is stolen, and the trains no longer run.
I don't want to give away the ending, but suffice it to say that it is very satisfying.
One issue with the book is that it is long. And yet one critic said, "A gripping story...stirring, psychologically profound, and not a page too long." About half way through, I felt it was many pages too long. The unfolding relationship between Julienne and Amand seems to be told in real time and includes the daily repetitions known to all households. And yet, by the end, I think I see the purpose of that long, drawn out, dailyness. We see the relationship grow and encounter set backs and hurdles. We see how one day does, in fact, differ from the day before. We live their lives alongside them and become part of the story, day after day. We know Julie and Amand. So when he suddenly becomes Louis who is married to Kathe, we have opinions! The length is the point.
This is a great book. I highly recommend it. Get over the length. The payoff is worth it!
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