Having always heard great things about Uris's writing I was excited to read this work about the US Marine Corps. And while it started out well the book falls flat with sappy interludes and silly situations. I had hoped for a story of the United States after the Civil War though the development of the Corps. Unfortunately what I got was a implausible love story told in flowery overemotional language that more suited a Romance novel.I would definitely not recommend this book.