Applicable context
- Ireland was colonised by English forces in the 1500s, with Irish land seized and given to Protestant settlers from England and Scotland during a period of history known as the Plantation of Ireland. Losing their land impoverished the native people and they were given no say in how their country was run. They then had further restrictions placed on them through the Penal Laws, passed during the 17th and 18th centuries, which stopped them from having the same freedoms and status as the settlers. Meanwhile, the settlers were known as A term often used to describe people from a social class which was often made up of descendants of Protestant landowners and professionals, from the Protestant Ascendancy of Ireland.; they were a minority in Ireland, but were protected by the English government and had easier access to wealth, education and other privileges. This long and difficult history is seen in the class differences between Alec and Jerry, while Jerry’s interest in fighting for Ireland is part of an equally longstanding history of resistance to colonial rule that included many efforts at rebellion across the centuries. Jennifer Johnston, born in Dublin in 1930, was from an Anglo-Irish background and would have been well aware of the prejudices on both sides of the divide in Ireland.
- The superior attitudes shown by characters like Alec’s mother and Major Glendinning were partly influenced by a long-established mindset of the colonising British forces, who often used propaganda depicting the people who lived in the lands they took over as inferior beings. Colonised people like the native Irish were often represented in British culture as being primitive savages and in dire need of the civilisation that invading forces could bring. The insulting language Glendinning uses to refer to the Irish men shows his low opinion of them, while his attitude to the war itself is typical of an officer trained to uphold the glory of the British Empire at any cost, even when it meant coldly sacrificing the lives of its citizens.
- How Many Miles to Babylon? contains references to the work of WB Yeats, another Anglo-Irish writer and one of Ireland’s most famous poets – Alec quotes Yeats poems to Jerry and even to himself; his attitude as he awaits death at times is reminiscent of the detached, stoical perspective of Yeats’ An Irish Airman Foresees His Death. Yeats was an Anglo-Irish protestant from a comfortable background, just like Alec, but had a deep interest in Irish history, folklore and legend that gave him a more sympathetic view of the rebel forces of Ireland.
The plot of How Many Miles to Babylon?
- The novel opens during World War One. An army officer – the The teller of a story; the voice in a text that describes or narrates the events of the plot. The narrator is often either a character in the story, or an authorial voice who gives a commentary on events but doesn't take part. of the story – is awaiting execution.
- The Narrative is another word for story. flashes back to his childhood. We find out that Alexander Moore – known as Alec – is an Irish aristocrat. He grew up as a landlord's son. His parents, Alicia and Frederick, are rather cold and detached.
- Alec meets Jerry, a village boy who shares his passion for horses. After initially fighting they become firm friends.
- Alec's mother is annoyed about his friendship with "that boy" from a lower class. She takes Alec away to Europe with her, apparently to broaden his education.
- War breaks out and Alicia says Alec must join up. To encourage him to do so – for her own selfish reasons – she tells Alec that Frederick is not his father.
- Alec is stunned. He meets a drunken Jerry, who is joining the army the next morning. Alec decides to do the same.
- In France, Alec and Jerry are stationed together. But as Alec is an officer, they are now divided by rank as well as class.
- Jerry's father – who is also a soldier – goes missing on the battlefield. Jerry leaves to search for him but when he comes back he is arrested for The act of leaving a post without permission, usually with no intention to return. In the army desertion is illegal..
- Jerry is sentenced to death. The cruel and tyrannical Major Glendinning orders Alec to command the firing squad that will execute his friend.
- Instead, Alec encourages Jerry to reminisce fondly about their time together as boys – he then shoots Jerry himself. Alec too is now sentenced to death.
Watch: Plot summary
How Many Miles to Babylon? is the story of an unlikely friendship between two boys from very different social backgrounds and their experiences during World War One
This is a book about friendship.
The two friends are an Irish aristocrat, Alexander Moore, and a labourer on his lands, Jerry. Their story unfolds before and during the First World War. The opening pages show the novel's narrator is an army officer awaiting execution. We then move back to his childhood, meeting the young Alexander (Alec) and his mother, Alicia.
Alec is gentle and thoughtful. He's happiest when horse-riding and writing. Alec's mother is beautiful but self-possessed – her firing of Alec's piano teacher shows she is a woman to be feared. She doesn't want Alec to go to school because she has "no intention of remaining alone in this house" with her husband, Frederick, who knows his wife hates him.
Alec meets Jerry, a village boy who shares his passion for horses and, after initially fighting, they become firm friends. They enjoy horse-riding, swimming and dreaming about living together on a stud farm.
Alec's mother is annoyed about his friendship with "that boy" from a lower class. She takes Alec away to Europe with her to "further his education".
When they get back, Alec grows closer to his father who teaches him how to manage the estate. War breaks out and Alicia says Alec must join up. But Mr Moore is against the idea; he hopes Alec will take over the family land and business.
To encourage Alec to join up, for her own selfish reasons, Alicia tells him she only stayed with her husband because of Alec and that Mr Moore is not Alec's father – who, she claims, is dead.
Alec is stunned. He meets a drunken Jerry, who is joining the army the next morning. Alec decides to do the same. Both his parents are shocked at the suddenness of his decision. His father doesn't want him to go, but Alicia tells Alec she is proud of him.
Alec trains to be an officer. His commander, the ruthless Major Glendinning, believes in division between the upper and lower classes – just like Alicia.
In France, Alec and Jerry are stationed together, but they are now divided by rank as well as class. Their friend in the army is Bennett, an officer with socialist ideas who gets hold of three horses.
The young men spend an afternoon riding and Jerry tells the others that he's a Republican, and he's learning how to use a rifle for the fight in Ireland.
Jerry's father, also a soldier, goes missing on the battlefield and Jerry leaves to search for him. When Jerry returns, having discovered his father is dead, he is arrested for desertion and sentenced to death.
Major Glendinning orders Alec to command the firing squad that will kill his friend. Instead, Alec has a final talk with Jerry. He gets him reminiscing about their time together as boys, before shooting Jerry himself.
Alec, too, is now sentenced to death.
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Further study
Bookclub. audio
James Naughtie and readers talk to one of Ireland's finest writers, Jennifer Johnston.
Remembering Jennifer Johnston
Friends and family reflect on the life of the award-winning Irish novelist and playwright.
English Literature past papers
CCEA past papers and mark schemes, plus top tips to help you prepare for your English Literature GCSE.
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