The War of the Buttons, a novel of my twelfth year

“La Guerre des boutons”, (full title "La Guerre des boutons, roman de ma douzième année”, “The War of the Buttons, a novel of my twelfth year”) is a classic French novel written by Louis Pergaud published in 1912. The story takes place in the rural French countryside and centres around the ongoing rivalry between the boys from Longeverne and Velrans, two neighbouring villages. The boys engage in battles where they try to capture buttons from each other’s clothes, symbolising victory and honour. The novel explores themes of childhood innocence, rivalry, camaraderie, and the absurdity of war. The imaginative narrative and relatable characters make it a timeless work that captures the spirit of adventure and the dynamics of growing up.