- incapableadjectiveChapter 1 →
Completely unable to do or feel something, no matter how hard one might try. Here it means Alec's mother simply did not have the inner capacity for love at all.
“My mother never loved me. I think she was incapable of love.”
- indifferentadjectiveChapter 1 →
Having no interest in or concern for something; not caring one way or the other. The day goes on as normal, completely unmoved by Alec's fate.
“Another day was preparing itself, indifferent to my situation.”
- distastefuladjectiveChapter 2 →
Causing a feeling of mild disgust or strong dislike. Alec's mother found even his physical presence unpleasant and something to be avoided.
“I think she found the physical fact of me distasteful.”
- Big HousenounChapter 2 →
In Irish usage, the large mansion of a Protestant Anglo-Irish landowning family, often now in decline. It signals both social privilege and the fading power of that class.
- Anglo-IrishadjectiveChapter 2 →
Describing the Protestant landowning class of English descent who settled in Ireland and occupied a privileged social position separate from the Catholic Irish majority.
- specimensnounChapter 4 →
Individual examples of something set aside for study or examination. Used here to suggest Alec's father observed people with cold, detached scientific curiosity rather than emotional engagement.
“My father watched us both with the same mild curiosity he gave to everything, as if we were specimens he had not yet found the energy to classify.”
- classifyverbChapter 4 →
To sort or assign something to a category after careful study. Here it implies Alec's father could not even be bothered to work out what kind of people he was looking at.
“as if we were specimens he had not yet found the energy to classify.”
- bewildermentnounChapter 5 →
A state of complete confusion and inability to understand what is happening around you. The new recruits share a sense of being utterly lost in their new military situation.
“We were, for the moment, the same. The same rough cloth, the same bewilderment.”
- enlistverbChapter 5 →
To formally sign up and join the armed forces as a soldier. In this text it marks the moment characters voluntarily enter the war.
- pipsnounChapter 6 →
Small metal badges of rank worn on a British Army officer's shoulder to show his grade. Here they stand for the whole system of military class distinction.
“The mud was impartial, at least. It had no interest in the pips on a man's shoulder.”
- impartialadjectiveChapter 6 →
Treating everyone exactly the same, without favouring one side or person over another. The mud of the trenches does not distinguish between officers and ordinary soldiers.
“The mud was impartial, at least. It had no interest in the pips on a man's shoulder.”
- billetnounChapter 7 →
A lodging or sleeping place assigned to soldiers, often a room in a civilian building rather than a formal barracks. It is where soldiers rest when not in the front-line trenches.
- bunknounChapter 7 →
A narrow bed built into a wall or frame, typically stacked, used by soldiers in their quarters. Its emptiness signals Jerry's disappearance.
“I sat on the edge of his bunk for a long time.”
- court-martialnounChapter 7 →
A military court that tries soldiers accused of breaking military law. A conviction can result in severe punishment, including execution.
“They looked at me as if friendship itself were a court-martial offence.”
- offencenounChapter 7 →
An act that breaks a rule or law and can be punished. In military law, even small violations can be treated as serious offences.
“They looked at me as if friendship itself were a court-martial offence.”
- AWOLphraseChapter 8 →
Absent Without Leave — a military term for a soldier who has left their post or unit without permission. It is a serious offence punishable by court-martial or death in wartime.
- ranknounChapter 8 →
A soldier's official position in the military hierarchy, such as private or officer. It determines authority, privilege, and how one person must treat another.
“The mud held us both equally, whatever our rank.”
- brutalitynounChapter 8 →
Savage, cruel physical violence or harshness. Here it is used as a contrast: the cold politeness of Jerry's arrest felt more disturbing than open violence would have been.
“They took him with a politeness that was worse than brutality.”
- buglenounChapter 9 →
A brass military horn with no valves, used to sound signals and calls in the army. Blowing it one last time is Alec's final act before his execution.
“I am going to blow the bugle for the last time and then I am going to die.”
- court martialnounChapter 9 →
The formal military trial at which Alec is judged for shooting Jerry. Its verdict determines that Alec will be executed at dawn.
How Many Miles to Babylon?Novella by Jennifer Johnston