E. H. (Elias Henry) Jones
The Road to En-Dor
Being an Account of How Two Prisoners of War at Yozgad in Turkey Won Their Way to Freedom
"The Road to En-Dor" by E. H. Jones is a memoir that recounts the experiences of two prisoners of war in Turkey during World War I. Likely written in the early 20th century, the book focuses on the extraordinary and often comical lengths the protagonists go to in order to regain their freedom. The main characters are Lieutenant E. H. Jones himself and Lieutenant Hill, who engage in a series of spiritualist experiments that both entertain their fellow captives and ultimately aid their escape. The opening of the memoir sets the stage for the story, revealing the dreary life of prisoners at Yozgad. After receiving a postcard from home, Jones and his companions decide to embark on exploring spiritualism as a way to pass the time. They gather a group of fellow inmates, eventually attempting to communicate with the spirit world through a Ouija board, initially with little success. However, their persistence leads to unexpected breakthroughs where they start to believe they are actually communicating with spirits, notably a character named "Sally." This combination of humor and intrigue establishes a compelling dynamic that blends camaraderie with the desperation of captivity, inviting readers to follow along with both laughter and suspense.