Nobody Comes Back

An American teen navigates the challenges of relentless action during World War II in this novel from the author and screenwriter of Cool Hand Luke.

“A very good book. Imagine Saving Private Ryan minus the schmaltz. . . . The narrative moves like a berserker, and Pearce’s prose is lean and propulsive. It’s accomplished work.” —Esquire

Best Novel of the Year, 2005, Military Writers Society of America

Toby Parker was America’s unwanted son. Sixteen years old, he was too young to enlist in the army, but old enough to know that he didn’t want to return to the life he knew: neglected by his mother, ignored by his father, overlooked by everyone else. The war overseas promised exotic locations and adventure, but what it delivered was something else entirely.

The war was all but over, though the fighting still raged on in pockets of Europe. Out of the critical focus on France, only one last position needed to hold: the city of Bastogne. Thrown into battle almost immediately upon arrival, Toby soon found himself wounded and alone, struggling to survive and looked upon to lead.

Told with gritty authenticity, Donn Pearce captures the very essence of what it means to be caught under the worst circumstances imaginable, while having the strength and humanity to rise above them.

“Nobody Comes Back is a timeless tale of a young infantryman fighting for his life—and his humanity. Will join the classics.” —Stephen Coonts, New York Times–bestselling author of Pirate Alley

“The best novel ever written about the Battle of the Bulge. With Nobody Comes Back, Pearce does for the Bulge what he did for chain gangs in Cool Hand Luke and what Stephen Crane did for the Civil War in The Red Badge of Courage.” —David Hagberg, USA Today–bestselling author of Dance with the Dragon