Frequently Asked Questions:
The James Jones Literary Society

Note: This page, though starting off very slowly with limited questions and answers, may (or may not, depending on its popularity) grow to be an important resource. Many answers to questions about the life and literary career of James Jones and his family, friends, colleagues and experiences may be found elsewhere on these web pages. A great deal of information can be found in the (as yet) unindexed newsletter section at http://rking.vinu.edu/news.htm . This page will give members of the JJLS an opportunity to provide answers to reoccurring questions web visitors ask.

Question #1: What is the significance of the phrase "the thin red line?"

Answer (Sept. 28, 1999):

Richard King forwarded me your questions regarding the significance of the title of James Jones' Guadalcanal novel, The Thin Red Line. From my point of view, the title captures the essence of Jones' realistic combat novel and how men react to the insanity of war. One reference to a "thin red line" is in a section of a Rudyard Kipling poem Jones quotes on the title page:

"Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that,
An' Tommy, 'ow's your soul?
But it's 'thin red line of 'eroes,'
When the drums begin to roll-"

Kipling was one of Jones' favorite poets, one who captures the soldier's experience in the army and in combat in his work. Jones admired that in Kipling, I think. Not every soldier goes into combat, and among those who do, "it's a 'thin red line of 'eroes,' when the shooting starts. Most simply do what they have to do and try to stay alive. And it can be said, I suppose, the red is symbolic of the blood shed by soldiers wounded or killed in action, as in Stephan Crane's The Red Badge of Courage-a novel Jones wrote about in an English class at the University of Hawaii after he had lived through the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. What Jones learned from his experience during that time and later in the long, terrifying battle for Guadalcanal gave him a unique perspective to write about combat from an infantryman's point of view. "I was scared shitless all the time (on Guadalcanal),"Jones said and spent a career writing about how men deal with combat and the effect it has on them .

In another quote on the title page, Jones uses an old Midwestern saying to emphasize the slight distinction between how individual characters handle what they've been dealt by fate: "There's only a thin red line between the sane and the mad." And there are other references in the literature to "thin red lines," I'm sure. The two Jones included on the title page to The Thin Red Line seem to make very clear what he was writing about in what many have called the best novel about men in combat during World II-any war.

Thanks for your interest in the works of James Jones.

Regards,

Ray Elliott
R.R.#2, Box 401
Urbana, IL 61802

217 337-6510
e-mail: tales@soltec.net

Question # 2: "Where I can I find a copy of From Here to Eternity (or other titles)?"

Answer (Oct. 23, 1999):

It is an unfortunate fact of life that books go out of print. Part of the purpose of the James Jones Literary Society is to keep public interest in our favorite author alive so his books might remain in print. A first step in locating books by Jones is to browse the Amazon bookstore. 

For locating out of print books, you might check the used bookstores on a web page I assembled at http://rking.vinu.edu/ref.htm --there are other bookstores out there but these should get you started. Services such as ALIBRIS or Bibliofind search the catalogs of numerous bookstores.

Good luck.
Richard L. King
Web Administrator, James Jones Literary Society
rking@indian.vinu.edu

Answer (Feb. 16, 2004)

The "in-print" status of Jones's works has greatly improved in the past few
years. All three titles of the WWII trilogy are currently (Feb. 2004) in
print:

From Here to Eternity
Paperback: 864 pages
Publisher: Dell Publishing; (October 13, 1998)
ISBN: 0385333641

The Thin Red Line
Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Delta; Reprint edition (February 9, 1998)
ISBN: 0385324081

Whistle
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Delta; (June 8, 1999)
ISBN: 0385334249

Also:

The Ice-Cream Headache and Other Stories
Paperback: 231 pages
Publisher: Akashic Books; (October 2002)
ISBN: 1888451351

The next few months will see these new editions:

New hardcover edition of From Here to Eternity:
Hardcover: 816 pages
Publisher: Random House/Gramercy (April 2004)
ISBN: 0517223007

The Merry Month of May
Paperback: 290 pages
Publisher: Akashic Books (May 2004)
ISBN: 1888451459

Question # 3: "Hello, my name is Kurt Wayton, I live in outhern NJ but went to college in Terre Haute, one of summer books was "Some Came Running" what the hell does the title mean? I loved the book, one of the best I've ever read in fact.  It was years and years ahead of it's time and focused on many of the same unfortunate life experiences I myself am going through now.  Great web page, have a great remainder of your summer."

Answer (August 16, 2003):

From Don Sackrider, former JJLS President and friend of James Jones:

I don't have a copy of the book here on Whidbey island but the quote was originally one Lowney (Handy, Jones' mentor) gave to me shortly after I first met her and she told it as a story rather than an exact quote from the Bible but it went like this: one came running to Christ and asked what he must do that he would inherit the kingdom of heaven and Christ said to him: go thy way and sell whatever thou hast and come take up the cross and follow me.  And the man went away sad for he had great possessions. So Jim turned to plural for the title and made some came running in place of one.

From Helen Hower, JJLS founder and friend of James Jones:

My copy of the book shows the quote from Mark, chapter 10 verses 17 through 22.
  17 -   And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?...

From Jerry Bayne, past JJLS President:

In an interview with Edward R. Murrow (See It Now) for TV in 1958, Jones answered this question.  He said he used a Biblical reference of when people came running to ask Jesus how does one get into heaven. 

Answer (Feb. 16, 2004)

From Tom Wood, JJLS Newsletter Editor and Archivist

Regarding Question 3: yes, this is the relevant Bible passage:

Mark 10
17: And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and
kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may
inherit eternal life?

But the kicker -- and the significance of the quote for the theme of Jones's
novel -- is what comes a bit later:

21: Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou
lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow
me.
22: And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great
possessions.
23: And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly
shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24: And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth
again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in
riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a
rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.