The book takes place in France during World War I and stretches through the course of one week in 1918.

Before Stefan's execution, the Generalissimo tries to convince the corporal that war can never be stopped because it is the essence of human nature.

The spirit of the Corporal has transferred to a British message runner, who eventually confronts the old Generalissimo.

[7] Julian Smith has noted similarities between A Fable and Humphrey Cobb's novel Paths of Glory.

[8] Frank Turaj has examined opposing images and themes in terms of the dialectic in the novel.