My four weeks in France

A weary family man in his thirties is coaxed into becoming a war correspondent, despite his lack of experience and his protestations about a wife and three “unreliable” children. After a series of bureaucratic run‑ins—with a bemused Mr. Creel turning him away and a French consular official demanding autographed photos—the reluctant reporter finally secures a spot on a troopship bound for Europe. The narrative captures his bemused negotiations, the absurdity of paperwork, and the uneasy humor of being sent into a conflict he never wanted to cover.

Aboard the vessel, he shares cramped quarters with a Harvard student, a Yale alumnus, a general, a novelist, and an eclectic mix of French locals. Their conversations, life‑boat drills, and the quirky customs of the ship’s crew provide a lively snapshot of the wartime Atlantic crossing. Illustrated with playful sketches, the story offers a light‑hearted, observant look at the chaos and camaraderie of an early‑20th‑century journey to the front lines.