Irving Stone's 1934 novel *Lust for Life*, a fictionalized biography of Vincent van Gogh, was published as an Armed Services Edition during World War II for U.S. soldiers. These pocket-sized books, measuring 11cm by 17cm, were designed to fit in uniform pockets and withstand harsh conditions. Over 123 million copies of various titles were printed from 1943 to 1947, with distribution including parachute drops to troops on Pacific islands and handouts to soldiers before the Normandy Landings. The surviving copies are scarce and often damaged, with browned pages and covers marked as U.S. government property, not to be resold.
The article matters because it highlights a unique intersection of art, literature, and wartime history. The Armed Services Editions provided entertainment and education to troops while subtly countering Nazi book burnings. Stone's novel, which sold over 25 million copies, shaped public perception of Van Gogh. The scarcity and condition of surviving copies offer a tangible link to the soldiers who carried them, raising questions about their journeys through decades and battlefields.