The Martian

"The Martian" is a semi-autobiographical novel that recounts the lives of two childhood friends, Bartholomew Josselin and Robert Maurice, beginning from their school days in Paris in the 1850s. After completing school, they return to England, where Barty spends some time in the army but quits. His eyesight fails, and he travels seeking help with it, becoming suicidal. Several events follow after this tragedy.