comment on style / language

Chris Cleave tells his novel Everyone Brave is Forgiven in language that is straightforward. The vocabulary is extensive in terms of the difficulty and number of words. This is done for several reasons.

First, the British education system at the time of the novel was one of the foremost in the world. A large vocabulary of large words among the characters of the novel therefore reflects the rigorous education British citizens undergo. The reverence for education is further demonstrated by Mary’s assignment to teach and Tom’s denied request for entry into the Royal Air Force. Those who made the decision for Tom's request viewed his current position as a school administrator as more important. That is just how seriously the British took education, even in a time of war.