Report on Experience: A Memoir of the Allies' War

by John Mulgan, Peter Whiteford (Editor), M.R.D. Foot (Foreword)

Report on Experience is a compelling memoir written by a quietly heroic author. This brilliantly written work provides insight both into the mind of the author and the prevailing attitudes of wartime Britain and Europe. Mulgan traces the Allies' path to World War II and the widespread reluctance of the population to accept the reality of hostilities. A determined man, he was appalled first by the inaction of his peers and superiors, then by the weak and unrealistic reactions to aggression. This new edition includes an introduction by M.R.D. Foot, a foreward by Mulgan's son, Richard, and materials censored in the original edition.

Genres: War, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

John Alan Edward Mulgan was a New Zealand journalist, writer and editor. He was the eldest son of writer and journalist, Alan Edward Mulgan.

Reviews

[Michael Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summarises the writer's conclusions about WWII, based on his experiences in the British Army in Ireland, Egypt and - above all - Greece. John Mulgan (better known as author of the novel "Man Alone") also discusses attitudes in Britain during the 1930s, particularly the positions of those on the political left. The prose is beautifully clear. Sometimes the tone is a little off, however, to my ear at least. There's a latent sentimentality in some of Mulgan's descriptions of Greek rural folk and in statements such as: "You don't need to be very clever to love someone. It is better not to be clever." Overall, though, Mulgan has things to say that are still relevant in 2018.

[Alan Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best quote: The search for a short cut, the easy road home, the quick cure, the patent medicine, was feverish, bitter, and unsuccessful.

Foreword by MRD Foot was better than the book.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can think of this as an essay about the lost