9th February 2026

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

The first book discussed when I joined my local book club, A Separate Peace had an interesting mix of feedback. It is a classic American novel, only recently published in the UK, about a small group of sixteen-year-old boys at a boarding school during the Second World War, and the particularly intense friendship between two of them: Gene (our protagonist) and Phineas.

Some people in my book club called it 'incredibly boring', while others stopped at 'incredible'. I landed somewhere in the middle. If you’re looking for an action-packed adventure or thrilling characters or a surprising ending, then this book is not for you. The cast is a bunch of privileged teenage boys sheltered from the realities of the war. I consider Gene to be an unlikeable and untrustworthy protagonist and in terms of plot, there are only two significant things that happen.

Despite that, it gave me a lot to think about. Very few things in this book seem solid and clear-cut, which makes it a great introspective piece. The book starts with an adult Gene revisiting the school. The rest of the book is Gene’s recollection starting from the summer of 1942. Phineas is undeniably the most prominent character. He is a golden boy with a gift for sports and a magnetic personality that seems to draw everyone into his orbit. Gene is more academically minded and has none of Phineas’ charm, choosing instead to speak in sarcasm, deflection or outbursts of frustration. Nonetheless, these two boys are best friends.

Of course, there is the obvious question of sexuality. While John Knowles himself explicitly stated that there is no intended homoeroticism, this is still a book that might resonate with young people who feel forced to hide their queerness. There is a lot that could be interpreted as Gene having feelings for Phineas that he doesn’t understand or know how to express. Phineas seems to have a level of control over Gene to the point that Gene’s whole personality is based on what Phineas would approve of. There are several points in the book where Gene changes his mind on an important decision, just because he sees Phineas have a particular reaction.

The war is also a constant present, despite being detached from the story. Note the descriptions of the weather; the onset of winter is described as an invading force, a detail I particularly liked. A lot of the descriptive prose is beautifully done, and I think the vividness of the world compared to the vagueness of Gene’s character was an important contrast.

This is not a book I would necessarily recommend, though I do understand why it is often taught in American schools. I will say that although it’s short, it isn’t one for light reading. I personally found interpreting the text to be a more enjoyable experience than reading it, so if that kind of book appeals to you, by all means give it a try.