Left unfinished on account of its authors untimely death, this still-substantial collection of short tales tells of the exploits of a plump, indolent,Left unfinished on account of its authors untimely death, this still-substantial collection of short tales tells of the exploits of a plump, indolent, good-natured soldier who is forced to serve in the Austro-Hungarian army. It's a darkly comic work, and it's very hard not to fall in love with the always-scheming protagonist....more
The most "recent" of the books on this list, but still powerful for all that. Bird was an important figure in the veterans' movement in the war's afteThe most "recent" of the books on this list, but still powerful for all that. Bird was an important figure in the veterans' movement in the war's aftermath; he took it as his duty to keep the public's memory of all that had been sacrificed alive and to work for the welfare of those who had come home alive but still deeply scarred, whether physically or otherwise. A sympathetic and often harrowing book....more
An amazing collection of short vignettes (over 100, in fact) that tell, from the point of view of a succession of American marines, the story of the wAn amazing collection of short vignettes (over 100, in fact) that tell, from the point of view of a succession of American marines, the story of the whole process of soldiering in the war from the moment of recruitment up to the Armistice and after. Really quite good....more
A very dark and unhappy volume, most notable now for having been not only published but popular while the war was still going on, and seemingly anticiA very dark and unhappy volume, most notable now for having been not only published but popular while the war was still going on, and seemingly anticipating the widespread "disillusioned" mood that would prevail during and after the "war books boom" I noted above....more
The best of the German memoir-novels of the war, Jünger's text conveys the experience of a young man who found himself exhilarated and challenged by tThe best of the German memoir-novels of the war, Jünger's text conveys the experience of a young man who found himself exhilarated and challenged by the experience of combat. There's a little capsule review of it here....more
Herbert would become better known later in his career as a humourist, but this early novel received wide acclaim upon its release even if it did not fHerbert would become better known later in his career as a humourist, but this early novel received wide acclaim upon its release even if it did not find a similarly robust market. Offers an account of Gallipoli, among other things. ...more
Probably the best of the immediate post-war English novels focused on the war in the air. A bit of a departure from what you may be after, I think, buProbably the best of the immediate post-war English novels focused on the war in the air. A bit of a departure from what you may be after, I think, but it's still "about the war" and really quite good....more
A loosely autobiographical novel from a man better known for his poetry, this is a dark, intense, finely-wrought experiment. I would not call it the mA loosely autobiographical novel from a man better known for his poetry, this is a dark, intense, finely-wrought experiment. I would not call it the most representative of the war books, but it packs a punch....more
The second of Sassoon's "George Sherston" novels (the first being Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man and the next being Sherston's Progress), but the most dThe second of Sassoon's "George Sherston" novels (the first being Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man and the next being Sherston's Progress), but the most directly focused upon the war itself. Tells Sassoon's own remarkable story in a fictional manner....more
A remarkably literate (and literary) English novel-memoir by a man who would go on to be a very well-established poet and artistic/philosophical theorA remarkably literate (and literary) English novel-memoir by a man who would go on to be a very well-established poet and artistic/philosophical theorist (to say nothing of also being the author of the great I, Claudius and Claudius the God). About what you'd expect from an English novel-memoir in terms of content -- Graves freely admits to having invented and sensationalized lots of it -- but the prose style...!...more
A poem, actually, but a novel-lengthed one which includes frequent sections of prose. A remarkable work that I can't really easily describe -- it simpA poem, actually, but a novel-lengthed one which includes frequent sections of prose. A remarkable work that I can't really easily describe -- it simply demands to be experienced....more
A remarkable English memoir from a man who would go on to become a prolific author of mysteries and thrillers, this volume offers the narrative of a hA remarkable English memoir from a man who would go on to become a prolific author of mysteries and thrillers, this volume offers the narrative of a highly-decorated infantryman who freely admits to having absolutely loved his experience in the war. A vigorous, rousing work. Of interest, too, is that Pollard's is one of the stories that gets woven into the fabric of Peter Englund's recent (and highly acclaimed) The Beauty and the Sorrow: An Intimate History of the First World War (2011) -- narrative history at its most powerful....more
This Anglo-Australian novel was published anonymously under this title in 1929, and in an expurgated version (under the title Her Privates We) a year This Anglo-Australian novel was published anonymously under this title in 1929, and in an expurgated version (under the title Her Privates We) a year later. The original version is now readily available thanks to relaxed "decency" standards. It is a beautiful piece of work, in which the deeds and experiences of an intensely intellectual man who willingly bucks promotion to stay among the lowly, regular "other ranks" are related. Very much worth reading; a sad and excellent work....more
Views the war in terms of aesthetic Modernism -- the war is its crux, cause, and almost pre-emptive culmination. I have never found a book simultaneouViews the war in terms of aesthetic Modernism -- the war is its crux, cause, and almost pre-emptive culmination. I have never found a book simultaneously so interesting, so predictable, and so annoying, but it is absolutely worth reading....more
A very important literary-critical evaluation of the war not only as seen through literature, but of the war as literature. Hynes acknowledges that thA very important literary-critical evaluation of the war not only as seen through literature, but of the war as literature. Hynes acknowledges that the general conception of the war as a futile, uniquely terrible, cultural-rifting, etc. enterprise is a myth, but continues to assert the value of that myth over whatever may have really happened from time to time. Very well-written, but possibly infuriating -- I like it all the same....more
A very welcome volume. Bond evaluates the most popular war memoirs (such as those of Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves, Erich Maria Remarque, and ErnstA very welcome volume. Bond evaluates the most popular war memoirs (such as those of Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves, Erich Maria Remarque, and Ernst Jünger) from a primarily military-historical standpoint, which is a more novel approach than one might think. This work is especially valuable in that he goes somewhat beyond the usual canon and brings in lesser-known memoirs, such as those of A.O. Pollard and John Reith, which are marked by a more positive engagement with the war than that of their contemporaries. ...more
Based on a series of lectures, this slender volume offers a sort of meditation on much of what has already been described in this section above. Bond Based on a series of lectures, this slender volume offers a sort of meditation on much of what has already been described in this section above. Bond pays specific attention to the literary and cinematic spheres, and has some considerably valuable things to say....more
A really, really good collection of essays by some of the best names in the field. It focuses primarily upon the difficult tensions that arise betweenA really, really good collection of essays by some of the best names in the field. It focuses primarily upon the difficult tensions that arise between operational, cultural, memory- and personality-based understandings of the war, and -- unlike some of the works in this line -- attempts to resolve them peaceably. ...more
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