Sardinian Brigade Sparknotes

In Emilio Lusso’s Sardinian Brigade, life on the southern front was not necessarily an enjoyable experience. The soldiers spent most of their time in trenches. These trenches became the soldier’s homes, and most of their spare time was spent reinforcing them. The winter season was particularly uncomfortable for these men; they were given only a blanket and a canvas tarp to keep off the moisture, while they were still dressed in summer uniforms, which did not offer much warmth (Lusso, Sardinian Brigade, 64). These soldiers also relied heavily on mules during their time at war. These animals were essential considering they were responsible for hauling the soldiers’ cartridges, ammunitions, and also brandy (Lusso, Sardinian Brigade, 77). When these men
Most of the soldiers did not even trust the generals, let alone respect them. Many of the soldiers saw the real enemy of the war as their own officers and generals. In one instance of the book, there was a general who was about to fall off a cliff. A nearby soldier rescued him, and while doing so, he made himself an enemy to the other soldiers, since they had hoped for the general to die (Lusso, Sardinian Brigade, 71). Another example is of a general walking through the camp at night while screaming to the soldiers. One soldier said, “better a dead general than a sleepless general ... I’ll fire one at him with pleasure” (Lusso, Sardinian Brigade, 65). Most of the book, however, is focused on the alcoholism of both the soldiers and the officers. One officer refers to alcoholism as being the soul of the war, while another expressed how he drank to defend himself in the war (Lusso, Sardinian Brigade, 36). Alcohol to these men seems absolutely critical to everyone except for Lusso. Whether the men were preparing for battle, passing time, or trying to overcome the hard and unforgiving sights they witnessed, these men turned to