# Unknown Narrator — Now It Can Be Told character guide > Unknown Narrator in Now It Can Be Told by Philip Gibbs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Your, mine, ye, myself, Mine, your **First appearance:** 0001-now-it-can-be-told ## Snapshot A war artist and correspondent who fights the censors for the right to tell the truth about the trenches, and pays for every small victory with a piece of his own soul. ## Who they are He moves between the châteaux of generals and the mud of the front, translating what he sees into despatches that must be honest enough to matter and tame enough to pass. When the Commander-in-Chief dismisses his work as bright copy for Mary Ann in the kitchen, the insult lands like a blow, and he argues back with a quiet passion that surprises even the generals. His real struggle is interior: to record the slaughter without either sanitizing it or surrendering to despair, and to keep faith with the soldiers whose names the public never learns. ## Relationships ### [The Officer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_officer) _professional_ The Officer interacts frequently with the Narrator, likely as a superior or colleague in a military command structure. ### [The Germans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_germans) _rivalry_ The Germans are the primary enemy force opposing the Narrator's side in the war. ### [The Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_boy) _friendship_ The Boy appears to be a young soldier or companion with a close, possibly protective bond with the Narrator. ### [The Colonel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_colonel) _professional_ The Colonel is a senior officer who gives orders and interacts with the Narrator in a formal military capacity. ### [General Haldane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/general_haldane) _professional_ General Haldane is a high-ranking commander who communicates with the Narrator regarding strategic matters. ### [The Australians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_australians) _friendship_ The Australians are allied troops fighting alongside the Narrator, with a camaraderie born of shared combat. ### [Sir John French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/sir_john_french) _professional_ Sir John French, as a senior British commander, interacts with the Narrator in an official military context. ### [The Officer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_officer) _professional_ The Officer interacts frequently with the Narrator, likely as a superior or colleague in a military command structure. ### [The Germans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_germans) _rivalry_ The Germans are the primary enemy force opposing the Narrator's side in the war. ### [The Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_boy) _friendship_ The Boy appears to be a young soldier or companion with a close, possibly protective bond with the Narrator. ### [The Officer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_officer) _professional_ The Officer interacts frequently with the Narrator, likely as a superior or colleague in a military command structure. ### [The Australians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/the_australians) _friendship_ The Australians are allied troops fighting alongside the Narrator, with a camaraderie born of shared combat. ## In the story ### [Now It Can Be Told](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/now-it-can-be-told) The narrator provides a firsthand account of the war's brutal truths, speaking for the common soldier. ### [Part I: Observers and Commanders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/part-i-observers-and-commanders) The narrator reflects on the psychological burden of witnessing war, the hatred of noncombatants' callousness, and the daily grind of covering battles. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/i) The narrator is a war correspondent sent from London, witnessing the early horrors of war and struggling to convey the truth to those who have not seen it. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ii) First accredited war correspondent, sent out in March 1915, fully credentialed in June 1915. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iii) The narrator reflects on his experiences as a war correspondent, living in a château and visiting the front lines, while grappling with the fear of death and the bureaucratic tensions with G.H.Q. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iv) The narrator experiences fear and self-mastery under shellfire, observes the psychology of the officers, and later walks through the ruins of Vermelles. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vi) The narrator visits the château and cemetery, interacts with the gunner officers, and reflects on the day's events. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vii) The narrator reflects on the emotional burden of witnessing death and the physical exhaustion of covering battles. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ix) A war correspondent who recounts the evolving relationship with G.H.Q. and the emotional weight of documenting the war. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/x) The narrator observes G.H.Q. at Montreuil, contrasting its pageantry with the front lines. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xii) The narrator observes the court-martial proceedings and the condemned man's final march. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiv) The narrator observes shell-shock cases and reflects on the indifference of civilians and officials. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvi) The war correspondent who reflects on General Haldane's character and recounts personal observations. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvii) The narrator who dines with Macready and recounts the anecdote. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xviii) The war correspondent who observes and reflects on the generals and the fighting men, adopting the perspective of those who die. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xx) Critiques the British High Command and praises civilian-soldier leadership. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xxi) The observer who feels sickness, hatred, and despair at the endless war, praying for an end to the massacre. ### [Part II: The School of Courage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/part-ii-the-school-of-courage) The narrator observes the decline of the Regular Army and the rise of the New Army, interacts with soldiers and officers, and records the bitter reflections of a young soldier. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/i) The narrator observes the state of the army and recalls conversations with officers. ### [The New Army](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ii) Provides a first-hand perspective on the motivations and experiences of the recruits. ### [The New Army Arrives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iii) The narrator observes and interacts with the new volunteers, recording their first impressions of war. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iv) The narrator observes the New Army's lack of patriotic rhetoric and listens to soldiers singing in a barn. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/v) The narrator recounts personal observations and visits to the canal-bank, reflecting on the experiences of soldiers. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vi) The narrator visits the trenches near Fricourt, observing conditions and speaking with soldiers. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vii) The narrator recounts his experiences in Ypres, from his first visit in March 1915 to the aftermath of the gas attack, and reflects on the horrors of war. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/viii) The narrator recounts a night in Ypres, describing the ruins and his conversations with soldiers. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xi) The narrator observes the life of soldiers in billets and visits châteaux, including the Château de Henencourt. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xii) The narrator visits Vaux-sur-Somme, observes the German sentry, and reflects on the strange peace of the outpost. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiii) The narrator observes the bathing establishment and reflects on the soldiers' suffering and joy. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiv) The narrator walks through harvest fields and observes peasants, soldiers, and the landscape, reflecting on the war's impact. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xv) The narrator observes and recounts the concerts and the soldiers' humor. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvii) The narrator attends a dinner at the machine-gun course and reflects on the young officers' fate. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xviii) The narrator reflects on the universal experience of boredom and his own inability to read or find meaning during the war. ### [The Endless War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xix) The narrator reflects on the changing morale of soldiers and recounts conversations with a chaplain, a bitter young officer, and a V.C. winner. ### [Part III: The Nature of a Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/part-iii-the-nature-of-a-battle) The narrator observes the battle from slag heaps, walks with John Buchan, and visits prisoners and wounded men, providing a firsthand account of the carnage. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ii) The narrator observes the movements and emotions of soldiers, living in a French village and hosting officers in his garden. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iv) The narrator reflects on his role as an onlooker and chronicler, recalling personal encounters with soldiers from pre-war life. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/v) Observes the bombardment from a slag heap and later walks the battleground. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vii) The narrator pieces together the story of the battle of Loos from accounts of men and officers. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xi) The narrator visits the prisoner field, talks with German prisoners, and reflects on the horror and the prisoners' humanity. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xii) The narrator walks through the battlefield, observes the carnage, and reflects on the war's horror. ### [Part IV: A Winter of Discontent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/part-iv-a-winter-of-discontent) The narrator reflects on the hopelessness of the winter of 1915, recalls conversations with officers, and visits the Hohenzollern redoubt. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/i) The narrator describes the bleak winter of 1915 and the disillusionment of soldiers. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ii) The narrator recalls the wet autumn of 1915 in Flanders and Artois, observing the conditions and interactions between soldiers. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iii) The narrator observes and reports on the suffering of soldiers, including cases of trench-foot and the courage of wounded men. ### [Christmas in the Trenches, 1915](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/v) The narrator moves through the trenches and billets, observing the soldiers' reactions to Christmas and reflecting on the irony of the season amid war. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vi) The narrator observes the New Year's Eve artillery barrage, walks through the ruined village of Annequin, and joins the New Year's Day banquet at Lillers. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/viii) The narrator recalls the raid by the 12th West Yorks and describes the events from a first-hand perspective. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xi) The narrator is snowed in at the Château of Tilques, listening to officers' conversations and reflecting on the irony of war. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xii) The narrator recounts the anxious discussions and the atmosphere of waiting and fear among the correspondents and censors. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiii) The narrator walks through the French lines near Vimy Ridge, observing the devastation and speaking with French officers and soldiers. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiv) The narrator enters Arras for the first time, observes the ruins, interacts with citizens, and reflects on the city's agony and resilience. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xv) The narrator observes the wounded and recounts the attack, providing a firsthand perspective on the suffering and bravery. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvii) The narrator visits a battery near Kemmel, observes the gunners, and reflects on the madness of war. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xviii) Visits cavalry officers before and after their trench duty, records their experiences and conversations. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xix) The narrator visits General Doran and Colonel Crosby after the mine assault, observes the colonel's reaction to bad news, and reflects on the cost of the attack. ### [The Heart of a City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/part-v-the-heart-of-a-city) The narrator observes the life of Amiens, converses with officers and civilians, and reflects on the war's impact. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/i) The narrator observes the soldiers' behavior in Amiens and recounts personal experiences of danger in Albert. ### [The Street of the Three Pebbles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ii) The narrator frequents the bookshop, observes the Carpentiers, and recalls the night of the French retreat in August 1914. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iii) The observer who studies the crowds and types of young English manhood on the rue des Trois Cailloux. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vi) The narrator observes the Australians and intervenes in the dispute between the tall Australian and the French policeman, speaking French to resolve the matter. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vii) The narrator is billeted in Amiens, writes despatches under air bombardment, and reflects on the temptations of the city's nightlife. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/viii) The narrator visits the estaminet, reads a local news-sheet, and listens to Madame's story. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/x) Walks nightly through Amiens, reflecting on the war's enormity and futility, and conversing with Palmer. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xi) The narrator goes out with Beach Thomas on a rainy night in Amiens, encounters a drunken young officer, helps him search for his lost horse, and brings him to the billet. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiii) The narrator observes the wounded soldiers at the Palais de Justice. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiv) The narrator observes the scenes along the Somme and interacts with a grieving mother. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xv) The narrator is a patient in the Amiens hospital, suffering from trench fever and exhaustion after five months of hard strain. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvi) The narrator recounts the tense atmosphere in Amiens, the air raid, and the conversations with officers and staff. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvii) The narrator walks through Amiens, observes the destruction, and attends the Fourth of July banquet. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xviii) Describes the scene of Amiens' recovery and expresses a desire to return after the war. ### [Part VI: Psychology on the Somme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/part-vi-psychology-on-the-somme) The narrator reflects on the tragic drama of the Somme and his own psychological responses as a correspondent. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/i) The narrator observes the preparations for the Somme offensive, reflecting on the war's progress and the coming battle. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ii) The narrator reflects on the mood of the British troops and his own apprehension after studying trench maps. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iii) The observer who first sees the Australians in St.-Pol, talks with an officer, and reflects on their character and the beauty of the Somme valley. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/v) The narrator reflects on the collective experience of the British armies, observing the valor and despair of the soldiers. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vi) The narrator stands with a group of officers, observing the bombardment and reflecting on the scene. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vii) The narrator observes the aftermath of the Somme battle, reflecting on the illusion of victory and the horror of the dead. ### [The Butcher's Shop of Corbie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ix) The narrator visits the field hospital at Corbie, witnessing the horrors of war and struggling with his own cowardice and revulsion. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xi) The narrator describes his own observations and conversations about the tanks, including riding in one and speaking with pilots. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiii) The narrator observes and participates in the evening's festivities, reflecting on the nature of laughter in the midst of war. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xiv) The eyewitness correspondent who describes the full scope of the Somme fighting, walking among the wounded and dead, and reflecting on the soldiers' psychology. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvii) Observes and speaks with German prisoners, reflecting on their humanity and the war's absurdity. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xix) The narrator recounts his experiences at Bapaume, Gommecourt, and Pigeon Wood, reflecting on the carnage and the soldiers' morale. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xx) Describes the German side of the Somme from prisoner accounts and captured documents. ### [Part VII: The Fields of Armageddon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/part-vii-the-fields-of-armageddon) The narrator reflects on his experiences as a war correspondent, describing the horrors of the battlefield and the psychological burden of witnessing mass death. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/i) The eyewitness narrator who recorded daily despatches and now reflects on the war as a whole. ### [The Devastated Region](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ii) The narrator witnesses the devastation of the German retreat, explores ruined towns, and interviews liberated French civilians. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iii) The narrator observes the battles, speaks with officers, and reflects on the contrast between war and nature. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/iv) Observes the mine explosions, walks through Wytschaete Wood, and witnesses mustard gas casualties. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vi) The narrator is billeted in a monastery in Cassel, observes the battle from afar, and visits the Hôtel du Sauvage. ### [The German Offensive of 1918](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/viii) The narrator witnesses the German offensive, feels haunted by the secret of the impending attack, and travels through the front lines. ### [After the Armistice: Occupation and Reflection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/x) The narrator reflects on entering Cologne, the futility of war, and the complex emotions of occupation. ### [Part VIII: For What Men Died](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/part-viii-for-what-men-died) The narrator reflects on the war's psychology and the motives of the men who fought. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/i) The author and observer, reflecting on his firsthand experiences and the broader implications of the war. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ii) Provides a sweeping moral critique of European peoples and leaders. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/v) The narrator recounts the soldiers' bitter observations and the chaplain's dilemma. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vi) The narrator reflects on the war's end and the betrayal of Wilson's ideals. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vii) The narrator observes and recounts the experiences of returning soldiers, including conversations overheard in teashops and the general mood of disillusionment. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/ix) The narrator provides a personal and philosophical reflection on the war's legacy and England's post-war condition. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/unknown_narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters