Ian Buruma's maternal grandparents were born into the same world: children of German-Jewish emigre stockbrokers living in London. But at the demand of his parents, Ian's grandfather, the dutiful son, broke up with his fiancee by letter just before leaving for the Western Front during World War I, where he served as a stretcher bearer in the Battle on the Somme. It was the first great shock their romance would suffer, but their love would survive it....