'War and Turpentine' is the stirring account of Stefan Hertmans' grandfather, Urbain, whose notebooks unveil a vivid tableau of a life marked by the tremors of war, a poignant lost love, and a journey towards healing through art. Hertmans weaves a narrative of personal exploration that transcends time, as he comes to understand Urbain through his words—words that were concealed behind the veneer of silence during his lifetime. Against the backdrop of World War I and its enduring impact, this narrative is not just a reimagined memoir but a profound commentary on how experiences carve our identities and how individuals can discover dignity amidst despair.