A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries

“Although we’ve gotten used to second-generation actors equaling or surpassing the accomplishments of their parents, the same hasn’t happened with second-generation novelist. Nonetheless there are a few . . . and added to their small number ought to be Kaylie Jones.” —New York Times



“The daughter of James Jones here offers a discerning, brightly written bildungsroman. She writes with sensitivity and compassion. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal

The inspiration for the Merchant Ivory film starring Kris Kristofferson, Barbara Hershey, and Leelee Sobieski, A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries is a rich and poignant family story from the daughter of novelist James Jones. Back in print, this new edition includes an author’s introduction reflecting on the process of developing a screenplay from her novel, as well as a previously unpublished chapter, “Mother’s Day,” that was left out of the original Bantam edition.

Based on the author’s early years in Paris with her famous father, A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries chronicles the growth of an extraordinary family. Previously the adored only child, Channe finds her world disrupted by the adoption of a French brother, Benoit. This inspired novel explores the complex, volatile relationship between a brother, a sister, a mother, and a father as they confront their own experiences of orphanhood.