Odsustvo do buđenja

The story, told partly from the perspective of Mac, the communications chief, and in the third person, follows a group of young U.S. Marines during the Pacific War. The novel explores their training, friendships, loves, and battles against Japanese forces.

The main characters include Danny Forrester, an idealistic young man in love with Kathy, and a diverse group of Marines, such as Andy Hookans and L. Q. Jones, who face the brutalities of war. The novel details the grueling boot camp training, combat operations on islands such as Guadalcanal and Saipan, and the psychological and emotional challenges of the soldiers. Uris depicts their courage, but also their fear, loss, and moral dilemmas, while the title “Battle Cry” (translated as “Absence Until Awakening”) alludes to the escape from the harsh realities of war through a spirit of togetherness and inner strength.

Through a documentary style, Uris faithfully records the experiences of war, emphasizing the brotherhood among soldiers but also the cost of war. The novel, made into a screen in 1955, celebrates the resilience of the Marines while simultaneously revealing the senselessness and trauma of the conflict. The work became a bestseller, cementing Uris's reputation as a master of epic prose.