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East Tennessee State University

Fiction as History: James Jones, <em>From Here to Eternity</em>.

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This study examines one of James Jones's novels, <em>From Here to Eternity</em>,as more than a fictionalization of historic events. Juxtaposing the correspondence between the author and his brother, begun when James Jones enlisted in 1939, and the novel allows an understanding of the extent that the novel was a distillation of Jones' personality and experience.</p><p>Jones felt fiction must be pieced from real experiences, but also contain original emotions disguised in the pages of a novel. Analyzing Jones's personal letters, interviews, and experiences offers, with some degree of certainty, the understanding that <em>From Here to Eternity</em> is more than merely a famous novel. It is an entertaining exposition of not only what military service does to men, but also what it emotionally did to James Jones. Thus this study reveals how much an author incorporates the essence of his historical experience-his "soul"-into his work.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MA (Master of Arts)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis - unrestricted
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
History
Year dc:date.issued
2002

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sonnenburg, Penny Marie

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright by the authors.

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/666
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-1823

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
East Tennessee State University
Base URL
dc.etsu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sonnenburg, Penny Marie. Fiction as History: James Jones, <em>From Here to Eternity</em>.. Thesis - unrestricted thesis, 2002. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/666