Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
Prime Reading
This title is also available to read for free with Prime. Learn More
OR
$4.99 with 67 percent savings
Print List Price: $14.94

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Roy M. Griffis
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

By the Hands of Men, Book One: The Old World: A Sweeping Saga of Courage, Love, and Redemption Kindle Edition

by Roy M. Griffis (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,522 ratings
A Towering Achievement
This book, and the entire By The Hands of Men series, is an incredible achievement by a talented author. It is, by turns, a fascinating look at the early twentieth century, a riveting adventure, an insightful and biting political commentary, and a sweeping romance. The characters are wonderfully and deeply drawn, and I found myself emotionally engaged and borne along by the same set of awful circumstances they faced throughout these wonderful books. This series should be required reading in every high school. I envy those just starting out reading this series... you're in for a rare treat!
-- Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars

MAGNIFICENT STORY!!!
Told with amazing kindness and compassion. It was a gripping, agonizing, heart-rending book that touched my heart on every page. What an author!! Thank you!
-- Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars


Wonderful! Engrossing!
While reading, I just became so fascinated by the characters and the plot that I could barely put my kindle down. While not reading, I couldn't stop thinking about the characters. I read A LOT and yet I seldom write reviews. In fact I'm forcing myself to write this instead of immediately diving into Book Two, which I've purchased and am chafing at the bit to get to. Excellently written, really. Great characterization. And to think I almost didn't read it because I've read SO MUCH about wars in Europe. Yet the perspective of a Russian countess inadvertently caught up in WW1 is so compelling, who could have guessed? And Matron! What a woman! And Ignace! Oh my goodness! And dear Orlando! Read this book. I'm rushing off to start Book Two.
-- Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars

A soldier fights for his soul in the trenches of France. A field hospital nurse battles death every day. When duty and honor are not enough of a reason to go on in the hell of a world at war, love gives purpose to their lives.

A mere mile from the blood-drenched front lines, Russian refugee and nurse Charlotte Braninov encounters English Lieutenant Robert Fitzgerald, who helps her save the life of another soldier. Robert's calm, courtly manner lingers in Charlotte's mind, a comforting memory amid the deluge of suffering that surrounds her when she returns to the hospital.

Wounded during an unauthorized mission of mercy and then demoted to a Medical Supply Officer, Robert Fitzgerald once more meets the brave young Russian nurse. When Charlotte volunteers to help the Lieutenant learn about his duties in this new life of service, a quiet friendship blooms and love grows in that harshest of soils, even as the war rages on. But human cruelty and endemic disease claw at their lives. Can love survive in a world torn by warfare, greed, and deception?

The Old World is the first volume of the epic globe-spanning By the Hands of Men series. From World War I France, it follows Robert and Charlotte through civil-war torn Russia to pre-revolution Shanghai, across the superstition-haunted swamps of the Congo and the timeless deserts of Central Africa, through Paris and London, and into the dream factory of Hollywood in the late 1930s.

Immersive, exciting, and emotionally compelling, By the Hands of Men is a gripping saga of fate, loss, redemption, and undying love.


A literary portrayal of love in a time of brutal warfare
Easily the best book I have read in a decade. A moving portrayal of a tragic time in history. I can't wait to devour the rest of the series.
-- Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 6
    By the Hands of Men
  2. Print length
    300 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    December 25, 2013
  6. File size
    3.2 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 6 books in this series.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start over
Previous page
  3. This Savage World
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  4. Like Family
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
  6. Desert War Nurse
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  7. The Butcher on Colfax
    Kindle Edition
    $0.99
  8. And In The Morning
    Kindle Edition
    $5.95
  9. Ryskamp (Fernsby's War Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  14. Wave After Wave: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  16. When We Were Brave
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
  18. Two Necklaces
    Kindle Edition
    $0.99
  21. Talmadge Farm
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  24. Girl at Dunkirk
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  27. The Woodcutter's Wife
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
  29. Finding Naomi
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
Next page
Loading...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Exceptional
I rarely interrupt my reading by taking the time to post, but this book deserves a favorable acknowledgement. With such a vivid accounting of history and a most memorable portrayal of characters, I am compelled to continue reading. Thank you Mr. Griffis for such an engaging work of art! -- 5 Stars, Amazon Reviewer

Great historical novel
One of the best historical novels I've read in quite a long time! It is totally believable and takes place during and after World War I. The author manages to capture and hold your attention on every page. The characters become very real and the love story was a plus. This was a great read! I have bought book two! -- 5 Stars, Amazon Reviewer

With elements reminiscent of Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms
In the midst of World War I, a relationship develops between an English lieutenant and a young Russian nurse--a surprising tenderness against the backdrop of war...with likable characters, spending more time in the Old World is an appealing prospect. - Kirkus Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The By the Hands of Men series

An English Lieutenant and an immigrant Russian nurse meet scarcely a mile from the bloody trenches of World War One France, where they witness the hell that the hands of men can create.

The memory of their brief weeks together will follow them for years as they cross a world staggered by war, revolution, and duplicity. Epic historical fiction, the saga sweeps across four continents in a gripping tale of fate, loss, redemption, and love.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00GFU6L7A
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 25, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.2 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 6 ‏ : ‎ By the Hands of Men
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,522 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Roy M. Griffis

Roy M. Griffis

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I decided I wanted to be a writer when I was ten, and I've never looked back.

Along the way, I've done all the usual starving writer jobs: waiter, janitor, bookstore clerk, even became the 62nd Aviation Rescue Swimmer in the US Coast Guard.

But I've always written. In the broom closet or the ship's galley underway, in the barracks and at my cubicle over lunchtime. Short stories, poetry, plays, screenplays (one of them winning "The John Milius Screenwriting Award" in 2018), and novels.

My published works include:

The "𝐁𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐧" series, a globe-circling saga of passionate, enduring love that begins in World War One and concludes in America in the 1930s.

The "𝐂𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐥𝐡𝐮, 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐬," humorous adventure novels which reveal "forbidden truths" about being an employee of Unnatural Horrors Beyond The Ken Of Mankind.

My newest series is "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡." Set in the Wyoming desert, it tells the story of a mysterious Military Academy which might just be haunted. People seem to like it, so far.

You can learn more about me at 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐬.𝐜𝐨𝐦.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,522 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find this historical fiction novel compelling and thoroughly enjoyable, with well-developed characters and spot-on descriptions of World War I. Moreover, the book is well-researched, with one customer noting how it immerses readers as eyewitnesses. Additionally, customers appreciate the writing style, with one review highlighting the skillful characterization, while another mentions how it's easy to picture in one's mind.

Select to learn more

StorytellingReadabilityWriting qualityCharacter developmentEnlightened contentHeartwarmingVisual qualityPacing
78 customers mention "Storytelling"68 positive10 negative

Customers find the book's storytelling compelling, describing it as an amazing historical narrative with love elements that keep readers engaged.

"This is the first in a series. It is fiction yet very accurate in a historical setting...." Read more

"...The story Mr. Griffis has fashioned is fascinating, compelling, heart-warming, heart-breaking and masterfully told...." Read more

"Thrilling and heartbreaking story of soldiers and the nurses who tried to save them and keep them alive during World War I." Read more

"...Kept me spellbound and reading far into the night." Read more

44 customers mention "Readability"44 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, with one mentioning it's totally engrossing, and another noting it's worth spending a day or two reading.

"Interesting book and I suppose that there is a need to replay the muddy scenes of France in WWI...." Read more

"...All in all, this is an extremely pleasant work, by a fine writer. Now if only he can develop a platform to announce his next work." Read more

"Great book well written the characters were so believable. The whole subject matter was interesting and factual...." Read more

"...Upon finishing Book 1, I felt it was such an amazing read that books 2 and 3 had to be a letdown. I could not have been more wrong...." Read more

28 customers mention "Writing quality"28 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its descriptive style and accurate portrayal of war scenes.

"...He has written in a style that places, no, immerses the reader as an eyewitness as well as a participant in every scene in the book...." Read more

"...The characters are real. The descriptions real. I feel as if I am there watching as the story unfold...." Read more

"...Appropriate details were plentiful, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. No spoilers, just begin the journey...." Read more

"...All in all, this is an extremely pleasant work, by a fine writer. Now if only he can develop a platform to announce his next work." Read more

24 customers mention "Character development"24 positive0 negative

Customers praise the well-developed characters in the book.

"WW I - battles, compassion, courage, devotion and powerful characters. Can’t wait to start the next one in the series!" Read more

"I didn’t want this to end. Loved the characters and was horrified how much suffering these young soldiers had endured...." Read more

"Clear and compelling. Good character development. Highly recommend. For anyone interested in World War One, this book belongs on your list." Read more

"...This is truly the beginning of a great saga. The characters are real. The descriptions real. I feel as if I am there watching as the story unfold...." Read more

17 customers mention "Enlightened content"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's well-researched content and detailed descriptions, with one customer particularly noting its accurate portrayal of World War I.

"...He has written in a style that places, no, immerses the reader as an eyewitness as well as a participant in every scene in the book...." Read more

"...is told by an author who has done his homework and paid attention to his craft...." Read more

"Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre, when it’s well researched & well written of course, & I don’t mind at all if the tale is enhanced..." Read more

"...The whole subject matter was interesting and factual. I'm starting the second book right now" Read more

12 customers mention "Heartwarming"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heart-warming, with one customer noting how it deals with harsh situations in imaginative ways.

"...The story Mr. Griffis has fashioned is fascinating, compelling, heart-warming, heart-breaking and masterfully told...." Read more

"WW I - battles, compassion, courage, devotion and powerful characters. Can’t wait to start the next one in the series!" Read more

"...It does grab your heart and takes you on a great adventure you find hard to put down...." Read more

"...The sufferings of the soldiers are clearly represented as well as the dedication of the medical staffs tending them...." Read more

8 customers mention "Visual quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, describing it as beautiful, with one customer noting it's easy to picture in their mind.

"A very haunting look at such a time in the world filled with turmoil. Kept me spellbound and reading far into the night." Read more

"...A simple storyline holds the attention against a richly drawn background, and the suspended conclusion encourages rather than frustrates...." Read more

"...and ugliness is the norm, this book brings truth and goodness and beauty...." Read more

"I like the way the author writes. It is so easy to picture in your mind the situations that are taking place.... so descriptive!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing, with one noting how it pulls readers in and maintains their attention throughout, while another describes it as intense as the historical times depicted.

"WW I - battles, compassion, courage, devotion and powerful characters. Can’t wait to start the next one in the series!" Read more

"...It was difficult to put down and held my attention throughout. Kudos to the author." Read more

"I love the book, d not get me wrong. It is intense as we're the times. The description of surroundings and people are great. That puts you in it...." Read more

"In depth look at Natzi Germany before and during world war II - a must read for those who want an honest look at what was going on at that time......" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Eliza Jane
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great if you like historical fiction.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is the first in a series. It is fiction yet very accurate in a historical setting. The victional story continues throughout the series and I ordered the second book. I just wanted to keep on reading and knowing what is going to happen next.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Desert Sailor
    4.0 out of 5 stars Get This Book Now!!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I wish I could give this book 8+ stars, but I'm limiting myself to 4. I read lots of reviews and often dismiss the 5 stars because I suspect they are either not honest or else submitted by uncritical fans. So I hope this 4-star review catches some attention. I've given only three reviews of the dozens of books I've read via Kindle; I hope this will give some weight to what I have to say.
    It will save you some reading here if you JUST GET THIS BOOK and then the two following (and the fourth still to come). The story Mr. Griffis has fashioned is fascinating, compelling, heart-warming, heart-breaking and masterfully told. My wife and I (I'm 80-years old; she's at the moment 5 or more years younger) both have developed an engrossing interest in Charlotte and Robert as well as the many other characters who populate their world. The experiences that shape them are so well described that you'll feel yourself at their shoulders being affected right along with them.
    I refuse to reveal more; you deserve to rejoice in the privilege Mr. Griffis has extended to us to immerse in this engaging book--and its successors.
    50 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars terrific read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Thrilling and heartbreaking story of soldiers and the nurses who tried to save them and keep them alive during World War I.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Lisa Dudick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless
    Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    WW I - battles, compassion, courage, devotion and powerful characters. Can’t wait to start the next one in the series!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rose
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-Rendering!!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    You will love nurse Charlotte. She is one of a kind. She has different relationships with people in this story that you feel as if you know them. The descriptions of the horrible times for the soldiers during WWI are unreal. Charlotte ultimate will find her love and you must read to find out!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Karen
    4.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A very haunting look at such a time in the world filled with turmoil. Kept me spellbound and reading far into the night.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Nirel
    5.0 out of 5 stars the Hands of Men
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I didn’t want this to end. Loved the characters and was horrified how much suffering these young soldiers had endured.
    Looking forward to reading the next book.
    I will be telling my friends about this book.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Patricia Q. Dorwin
    3.0 out of 5 stars Far too much gore
    Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Interesting book and I suppose that there is a need to replay the muddy scenes of France in WWI. Had I researched the book a bit, I would not have read it. I will not be reading the books that follow the story. These are personal opinions.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Bella
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story of war, love and friendship
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 11, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I loved this book, it had a bit of everything! It tells the story of a beautiful immigrant Russian nurse. How she came to France to help look after the soldiers from World War 1, in the front line and trenches. We read of Charlotte's strengths, how she forged friendships through her kindness and ability to work under dire conditions. Charlotte's friendship with Matron, her mentor, was deeply soaked with the love you have for a mother. During the atrocities of war, she meets an English lieutenant. A man of integrity, in this godforsaken hell. Don't be deceived, this isn't just a love story, it is much more. It's about life, death, war, love, hatred, strength. All this and much more was acutely felt, in an otherwise ugly war! I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.
    Report
  • Raymond Lully
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story of love in dark times
    Reviewed in Canada on September 8, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The first offering in this series was quite a welcome change from what one usually encounters in best-seller lists or featured in so-called progressive lit blogs. The story captivates you right away and keeps you engaged right through to the last page. Definitely worth checking out!
    Report
  • Leontia Keegan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well researched with great characters.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I always love reading novels about WW1 and this one was no exception. I shed a few tears several times because the writing was so moving. Now I'm going to have to buy the rest of the novels in this series.
    Report
  • marlene raymond
    5.0 out of 5 stars awesome read. Kept you engaged right to the end
    Reviewed in Canada on September 18, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    awesome read. Kept you engaged right to the end.
    Report
  • Sally Ashford
    5.0 out of 5 stars By The Hands Of Men, Book One, The Old World
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Loved this book and now looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
    Author has achieved the right mood in his writing. This was a terrible time in our history but somehow he manages to bring a love story into the carnage and a very believable one as well.
    The truth of the matter is Nurses like Charlotte witnessed some truly horrendous things and I could almost feel her fatigue and despair at the daily grind she was facing.
    I have never left a review before but felt it was important to let the author know how much I appreciated his skill and compassion in his writing and story telling.
    I’m intrigued to see what happens next.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report