The poetry that emerged from the trenches of WWI is a remarkable body of work, at once political manifesto and literary beacon for the twentieth century. In this passionate recreation of the lives of the greatest poets to come out of the conflict, Nicholas Murray brilliantly reveals the men themselves as well as the struggle of the artist to live fully and to bear witness in the annihilating squalor of battle. Bringing into sharp focus the human detail of each life, using journals, letters and literary archives, Murray brings to life the men's indissoluble comradeship, their complex sexual mores and their extraordinary courage. Poignant, vivid and unfailingly intelligent, Nicholas Murray's study offers new and finely tuned insight into the - often devastatingly brief - lives of a remarkable generation of men.
From the acclaimed author of Corelli’s Mandolin, here is a sumptuous, sweeping, powerfully moving new novel about a British family whose lives and loves are indelibly shaped by the horrors of World War I and the hopes for its aftermath. In the brief golden years of the Edwardian era the McCosh sisters—Christabel, Ottilie, Rosie and Sophie—grow up in an idyllic household in the countryside south of London. On one side, their neighbors are the proper Pendennis family, recently arrived from Baltimore, whose close-in-age boys—Sidney, Albert and Ashbridge—shake their father’s hand at breakfast and address him as “sir.” On the other side is the Pitt family: a “resolutely French” mother, a former navy captain father, and two brothers, Archie and Daniel, who are clearly “going to grow up into a pair of daredevils and adventurers.” In childhood this band is inseparable, but the days of careless camaraderie are brought to an abrupt halt by the outbreak of The Great War, in which everyone will play a part. All three Pendennis brothers fight in the hellish trenches at the front; Daniel Pitt becomes an ace fighter pilot with his daredevil tendencies intact; Rosie and Ottilie McCosh volunteer in the hospitals, where women serve with as much passion and nearly as much hardship as the men at the front; Christabel McCosh becomes one of the squad of photographers sending “snaps” of their loved ones at home to the soldiers; and Sophie McCosh drives for the RAF in France. In the aftermath of the war, as “the universal joy and relief were beginning to be tempered by . . . an atmosphere of uncertainty,” everyone must contend with the modern world that is slowly emerging from the ashes of the old. A wholly immersive novel about a particular time and place, The Dust That Falls from Dreams also illuminates the timeless ways in which men and women carry profound loss alongside indelible hope.
In 'The Red Cross Girls on the French Firing Line' by Margaret Vandercook, readers are transported to the tumultuous time of World War I, where a group of brave American nurses, known as the Red Cross Girls, serve on the front lines in France. The book combines a compelling narrative with detailed descriptions of the harsh realities of war, providing a captivating literary experience for readers interested in historical fiction. Vandercook's writing style is both informative and emotive, shedding light on the sacrifices made by individuals during wartime. The novel is reminiscent of other war memoirs from the early 20th century, offering a glimpse into the experiences of those who served in the Red Cross. Vandercook's attention to detail and character development make the story both realistic and engaging, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout the book. Margaret Vandercook, a prolific American author, drew inspiration for this novel from her own experiences serving as a Red Cross nurse during World War I. Her firsthand knowledge and dedication to honoring the work of nurses during the war shine through in 'The Red Cross Girls on the French Firing Line,' making it a must-read for history enthusiasts, war buffs, and fans of strong female protagonists.
Examines how literary writers including Ford Madox Ford, Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, James Hanley, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, and others countered the war culture promoted by mass media, war planners, and military historians.
Shandygaff is about the life and adventures of newspaper editor Kenneth Stockton. Excerpt: "SHANDYGAFF: a very refreshing drink, being a mixture of bitter ale or beer and ginger-beer, commonly drunk by the lower classes in England, and by strolling tinkers, low church parsons, newspaper men, journalists, and prizefighters. Said to have been invented by Henry VIII as a solace for his matrimonial difficulties. It is believed that a continual bibbing of shandygaff saps the will, the nerves, the resolution, and the finer faculties, but some will abide no other tipple."
List of Rhodes scholars, 1904-1915: v.2 p. [145]-161. Vol. for 1934- include Addresses and occupations of Rhodes scholars and other Oxonians (called 1934-36, Addresses and occupations of Rhodes scholars).
