The Survivors: A Story of War, Inheritance, and Healing by Adam Frankel

In Adam Frankel’s “The Survivors: A Story of War, Inheritance, and Healing,” the author uses his personal story of recovery from war and his family’s many generations of military service as a platform to explore the psychological and personal effects of war. The novel follows Frankel’s story of his own struggles with PTSD as well as that of his father, and the legacy passed down through the generations of men in his family. It relates how he was able to come to terms with his memories and experiences while also divorcing himself from the physical and mental pressures of war.

The novel begins with Frankel recounting his father’s experiences in World War II. As a young man, his father was an armored corps infantryman who saw two years of fighting in Africa. His father is described as a stoic and tough fighter, but one who was haunted by his memories. The novel establishes the father’s legacy that he passes to Frankel and generations of his family who fight in the military.

The novel then focuses on Frankel’s experiences as part of the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq. He recounts the difficulties he faced after returning to the United States, his struggles with PTSD, and his emotional journey in learning to cope with the elements of war that he had been exposed to. Through his narrative, Frankel examines the psychological toll that war takes on everyone involved, from the combatants to the families of the veterans. He reflects on the shortcomings of the military system when it comes to helping veterans with the transition back to civilian life and how the culture of the military and its values are not adequately understood by those outside the system.

The novel also examines the bond between Frankel and his father, how their stories as soldiers are intertwined, and how the effects of war on both of them were shaped by their shared struggle to come to terms with their experiences and the trauma of war. Frankel reveals the ways in which the aftermath of war manifests in his life and his father’s, and how both of them were able to find solace in their shared legacy.

Throughout the novel, Frankel draws on his personal story, as well as his family’s long history of military service, as a platform for examining the effects of war and its impact on generations of soldiers and their families. He reflects on the need for healing from the impact of war, and the resilience of generations of survivors seeking to break out from the cycle of trauma and silence that are so often the inheritance of war.

Ultimately, Frankel offers a powerful story of his own recovery from the effects of war, and his nd his families shared experience of struggling to come to terms with their past. Through his moving narrative, he offers insight and solace for readers in similar situations, and conveys the message that healing is possible, even when the resources in our society and systems do not always allow for it. “The Survivors” is a powerful story of war and its consequences, and how despite the generational trauma it inflicts, resilience and hope can still be found among those who remain.