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Siegfried Sassoon
The life of Siegfried Sassoon has been recorded and interpreted in literature and film for over half a century. He is one of the great figures of the First World War, and "Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man" and "Memoirs of an Infantry Officer" are still widely read, as are his poems, which did much to shape our present ideas about the Great War. Sassoon was a genuine hero, a brave young officer who also became the war's most famous opponent, risking imprisonment and even a death sentence by throwing his Military Cross into the Mersey. He was friend to Robert Graves, mentor to Wilfred Owen and much admired by Churchill. But Sassoon was more than the embodiment of a romantic ideal; he was in many senses the perfect product of a vanished age. And many questions about his character, unique experience and motivations have remained unanswered until now.'Unmistakably the best thing anybody has ever written about Sassoon' D J Taylor, "Independent"'Egremont's work outclasses his predecessors . . . this is an outstanding and original biography' Max Hastings, "Daily Telegraph"'Sassoon is the ultimate ambiguous man, and Egremont does him full justice . . . he has honoured him with a biography of subtle affection and truth' Sebastian Barry, "Financial Times"
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First published October 10, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 3, 2015
When we think of Siegfried Sassoon, we think of World War One – his brutally realistic poems about the trenches, his anger, how he narrowly escaped death so many times. The war was the defining of Sassoon’s life and his career as a writer… But it lasted only four years and was over when he was only thirty-two. In this 639-page biography, the war ends around the 200th page. Then what? This was a question that plagued Sassoon all his life – and one his biographer, Max Egremont, struggles with as well. What happens after the worst has passed? How do you move on? What is left?
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July 10, 2020
It comes as no surprise that once you've read about Wilfred Owen, you'll move on to Siegfried Sassoon. They met during WWI at Craiglockhart, a place where the soldiers went once they've been diagnosed with shell shock. The test of time showing that Owen's poetic prowess was far stronger than that of Sassoon, who referred to the former as "little Wilfred". But, as often happens once you've read over 500 pages of someone, my writing is reflecting that of the biographer: Max Egremont. There were times when it felt as if he was copying Sassoon's diary verbatim! The sentences getting longer and longer with references to more and more people that I couldn't place (I've read a lot of literature from that era, so should recognize someone!). On page 268 you read: "He wondered if E.M. Forster and he had failed in not taking more risks with their writing, yet Ulysses repelled him after only a few pages." Now Ulysses is the work of James Joyce and there's no mention of him anywhere in that particular chapter, leaving someone who doesn't know with the idea that it might've been the work of Forster! The book needs a thorough edit shortening these meandering sentences (with their semi-colons and dashes) and also clarifying what is exactly is being referred to in places.
That said, the feeling I was left with, is of a poet that was so self-absorbed and inflexible that very little seemed to touch his core, unless it came from himself, such as his poetry, the criticism of it and his son, George. Imagine not going to your own mother's funeral for fear of- well, of what? That the other mourners might see your pain? Isn't that what he was trying to express with his war poems, which made him famous? If it wasn't for the "Great War" we would never have known about Siegfried Sassoon, a homosexual who couldn't find a place in society until he enlisted. Egremont refers to Sassoon's Jewishness a few times, but I doubt that it had much impact on the poet's life or views. If anything, his guilt at being homosexual defined him and the experiences he had during the war too. He could never free himself from these two things and battled to write about anything beyond that and himself (publishing one autobiography after the next). He seems to have lived a typical "English gentleman's" life, had far too much money and far too much self-importance to care.
Sassoon's marriage to Hester Gatty might've been an attempt to please his mother, or to make sure there's a Sassoon heir. The day he proposed, he obviously thought it was the right thing to do, but so disillusioned: Once you've convinced yourself you're a homosexual, how do you expect a heterosexual relationship to hold? Hester (nee Gatty) also entered the union with her own psychological problems, basically dooming the marriage from the beginning. Sassoon's love (and later hatred) for Stephen Tennant is something he should've spoken to Hester about. It might even have helped for him to have a better understanding of Tennant and keep well away! Tennant sounds like an absolute nutter that should've stayed at Swaylands (clinic).
Perhaps this is why I read biographies, to discover that famous people were just human. We all live these utterly simple lives and try to make so much of it, when in fact our contribution is but a leaf on the lawn. You wouldn't know about it unless it stands straight, has a different colour or is picked for some reason. At the end of the day we have to do what we're passionate about, in Sassoon's case it was to write. That's what made him happy and that's all that counts.
PS A rather funny faux par any editor could fix appears on page 520: "Tennant did not die until 1986." ... so we all sit and wait for it, do we?
That said, the feeling I was left with, is of a poet that was so self-absorbed and inflexible that very little seemed to touch his core, unless it came from himself, such as his poetry, the criticism of it and his son, George. Imagine not going to your own mother's funeral for fear of- well, of what? That the other mourners might see your pain? Isn't that what he was trying to express with his war poems, which made him famous? If it wasn't for the "Great War" we would never have known about Siegfried Sassoon, a homosexual who couldn't find a place in society until he enlisted. Egremont refers to Sassoon's Jewishness a few times, but I doubt that it had much impact on the poet's life or views. If anything, his guilt at being homosexual defined him and the experiences he had during the war too. He could never free himself from these two things and battled to write about anything beyond that and himself (publishing one autobiography after the next). He seems to have lived a typical "English gentleman's" life, had far too much money and far too much self-importance to care.
Sassoon's marriage to Hester Gatty might've been an attempt to please his mother, or to make sure there's a Sassoon heir. The day he proposed, he obviously thought it was the right thing to do, but so disillusioned: Once you've convinced yourself you're a homosexual, how do you expect a heterosexual relationship to hold? Hester (nee Gatty) also entered the union with her own psychological problems, basically dooming the marriage from the beginning. Sassoon's love (and later hatred) for Stephen Tennant is something he should've spoken to Hester about. It might even have helped for him to have a better understanding of Tennant and keep well away! Tennant sounds like an absolute nutter that should've stayed at Swaylands (clinic).
Perhaps this is why I read biographies, to discover that famous people were just human. We all live these utterly simple lives and try to make so much of it, when in fact our contribution is but a leaf on the lawn. You wouldn't know about it unless it stands straight, has a different colour or is picked for some reason. At the end of the day we have to do what we're passionate about, in Sassoon's case it was to write. That's what made him happy and that's all that counts.
PS A rather funny faux par any editor could fix appears on page 520: "Tennant did not die until 1986." ... so we all sit and wait for it, do we?
January 14, 2018
A deeply satisfying book on one level, with the way it brought together people and elements of history of which I knew a little but didn't know they collided (e.g. his friendship with Philip Gosse, whose 'Father and Son' I studied for A-level English Literature). I really enjoyed the descriptions of the times and the snippets from letters and journals which brought the narrative to life. An unsatisfying book on another level (and this is nothing to do with the skill of the author) in that it felt that Sassoon didn't really do anything with his life after the First World War. I'm sure he was a product of his time that most of society doesn't understand any more (servants, abundant leisure time) but he seems to spend most of his life drifting. I enjoyed Sassoon's withering assessment of the modernist poets like T.S Eliot (also A-level English Literature) and his slightly jealous comments on Wilfred Owen's poetry. I remember reading the 'Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man' when studying Sassoon's poetry for GCSE English Literature and finding it hard - either time passing or the skill of the writer made this a much, much easier book to read.
June 7, 2023
I read Sassoon’s Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man some time ago and I’ve had this biography sitting on the shelf for a number of years. So I thought I’d give it a go, I’m not a Sassoonaphile but I do enjoy books based on this period of British History, particularly the years leading up to and immediately after WW1. This book does not disappoint, an easy read and enough anecdotes to keep the reader’s attention. A sad tale really of a suppressed, homosexual intellectual, seeking love and literary recognition in a rapidly changing world.
May 27, 2018
Max Egremont creates an exhaustive biography of British poet and memoirist Siegried Sassoon. The book is perhaps too detailed. I don't think we need to know every social engagement he attended and its guests. But he creates a powerful picture of a very conflicted man and, through all the detail, still maintains a strong and well-supported point of view toward the man as a victim of inner conflicts between his homosexuality and the demands of society.
August 9, 2017
2.5 stars
Much too dense and rather clinical in its approach. That said, it is totally comprehensive and as objective as a biography can ever be.
Much too dense and rather clinical in its approach. That said, it is totally comprehensive and as objective as a biography can ever be.
July 16, 2024
Interesting read for anyone interested in poetry and gay history. A little less so perhaps for WWI aficionados.
April 17, 2020
Very (very) detailed. I enjoyed the book a lot. Not sure if I like Sassoon but he was an interesting guy. Feel sorry for anyone who ever had to drive in a car with him, though.
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December 11, 2015ASIDE FROM THE SISTERS, DO YOU HAVE RECS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS? DOES AMONG THE BOHEMIANS COVER IT TOO?
THE CRAZY YEARS BY WILLIAM WOSER LOOKS AT THE PARIS SCENE, BOBBED HAIR AND BATHTUB GIN AT THE LOMERICANS, AND BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE BY D J TAYLOR THE BRITISH. SIEGFRIED SASSOON SPENT THE TWENTIES BANGING STEPHEN TENNANT, THE BRIGHTEST OF THE LONDON CAMP BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS, AND A RECENT BIOGRAPHY ON SASSOON GIVES SOME INTERESTING DETAILS ABOUT THE SCENE.
THE CRAZY YEARS BY WILLIAM WOSER LOOKS AT THE PARIS SCENE, BOBBED HAIR AND BATHTUB GIN AT THE LOMERICANS, AND BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE BY D J TAYLOR THE BRITISH. SIEGFRIED SASSOON SPENT THE TWENTIES BANGING STEPHEN TENNANT, THE BRIGHTEST OF THE LONDON CAMP BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS, AND A RECENT BIOGRAPHY ON SASSOON GIVES SOME INTERESTING DETAILS ABOUT THE SCENE.
August 28, 2014
Stopped reading this one after about 270 pages. Other than a really good exposition of Sassoon's war experiences and poetry, the rest is a slow slog, needing much more knowledge of his poetry than I have. Also, the social circle of homosexuals gradually becomes confusing (I had to keep going to the index in order to reacquaint myself with named personages).
April 10, 2016
I would have given it 6 stars if I could. I have read 2 other SS biographies and they were both 5 star but this has something extra, a poignancy and a real sense of feeling for the subject.
OK it is a little light on the 'war' but that stuff is available in plenty elsewhere and I think sympathetic to the man.
OK it is a little light on the 'war' but that stuff is available in plenty elsewhere and I think sympathetic to the man.
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January 2, 2014so far so good
December 26, 2014
Goodreads rating 77
February 1, 2017
A well written life of a interesting man. I loved it especially for entire sections that covered all the gaps in Stephen Tennant's biography.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews