Love Letters of the Great War

by Mandy Kirkby, Helen Dunmore (Foreword)

From the private papers of Winston Churchill to the tender notes of an unknown Tommy in the trenches, Love Letters of the Great War brings together some of the most romantic correspondence ever written. Many of the letters collected here are eloquent declarations of love and longing; others contain wrenching accounts of fear, jealousy and betrayal; and a number share sweet dreams of home. But in all the correspondence – whether from British, American, French, German, Russian, Australian and Canadian troops in the height of battle, or from the heartbroken wives and sweethearts left behind – there lies a truly human portrait of love and war. A century on from the First World War, these letters offer an intimate glimpse into the hearts of men and women separated by conflict, and show how love can transcend even the bleakest and most devastating of realities.Edited and introduced by Mandy Kirkby, with a foreword from Orange Prize-winner Helen Dunmore.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Poetry, Romance, World War I, War, Historical

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2014

Reviews

[Amena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book though. Heart has officially melted. Of course people years ago knew what love was, but to see it expressed in this way, in black and white, there is something very heart warming about that. I adore these letters and think i will revist them at least once a year.

[Rikke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some poignant letters for my ANZAC Day read.

[Malvika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love letters, especially love letters. Thanks to this collection, I started researching about gay romance during the world wars, and now I have an entirely new collection to explore.

[Colleen Fauchelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This morning we got up at 4.30 so we could go to the dawn parade held in Wellington and all-round the country to remember those great men and woman who fight for our freedom. How forever grateful we should be for the price they paid. They were and are so brave to go off to war not knowing if they would make it out alive.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for another. Thank you Dear men for your courage in the face of such destruction. That you would go bravely forward in war for the love of your country and fellow man. Your sacrifice is never forgotten.

I love letters, I love writing them so I can send encouragement and news. I love that the person receiving the note is getting a letter and not a bill. This book is full of letters some funny, some loving and some sad that men had written to their loved one's while they fought on the front lines. They talk of war and missing their loved ones, of their faith or lack of and they talk of the weather. Beautiful, heart breaking and amazing.

I couldn't give this book less than five stars because they were letters from men who wanted to stay in touch with the love of their lives.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety - familiar love, new love, long-lasting love was all included

"And so after all this is the end, you who were so certain of coming back & I who was so certain of it too, have to own ourselves completely baffled"

[Katie Barty-Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This quirky glimpse into life during WW1 is a treasure I honestly think everyone should read. This charming little book captures the hardships, the laughter, the relationships and the reality that was life in WW1. This gem was a wonderful reading experience for myself, With the previous owner of the book creating such lovely and detailed annotations in my edition that only added enjoyment of my reading of these true letters. I would recommend this book to anyone, it shows the humanity of men and women during WW1 and while some letters being utterly heart breaking, it also captures the positivity and strength these people had during this time to enjoy any normality and still find chances to laugh. A book full of utter inspiration.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking about the guy who just sent back annotated versions of his wife’s letters and when she described a lovely photograph of him she looks at he just wrote back ‘FAT’

[Kim Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice easy read which gives a true glimpse of what WW1 was like.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many books being published about World War One in this centenary year. This collection is well chosen, with a thoughtful thematic grouping, and letters that are representative of different classes, ages and educational background. While most are from Britain, there is a smattering of letters from other countries involved in both sides of the war. I would have liked more letters from women but understand that these were often lost or left behind by the soldiers on the front. Despite the censors, these letters convey the hardships of prolonged trench warfare and the heartfelt longing for home and intimacy. I have my own father's letters to my mother from the Great War, including the one where he proposed to her. Because he wasn't good at expressing emotion, the letters are rather wooden but are a touching reminder of his devotion from the hell-holes of the Somme. The letters in Kirkby's collection are full of both darkness and hope, bringing to life many people whose lives and loves were cut short by the conflict.

[Richard B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up on my latest UK trip. A really moving and fascinating read. A nicely curated collection of letters between soldiers fighting it on all sides and their wives, lovers, family during the First World War. Some funny, some heart-breaking and all fascinating. Well worth your time.

[Cristina Botef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of letters. Intimate, sad, funny - a roller coaster of emotions between book covers.

[Friederike Hegelau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bewegender Briefwechsel✉️📬

,,Everywhere as far as the eye can reach is barren & desolate & every single thing upon it is directly appertaining to war."
So heißt eine der Zeilen aus Schütze Wilfred Coves Brief an seine Frau Ethel, in dem er ihr genau den Kriegsschauplatz und die Strapazen erläutert. Ein weiterer Brief war für seine Tochter Marjorie angefügt, in dem er sich entschuldigt, dass er an Weihnachten nicht Zuhause sein kann und ihr erzählt, dass er ihre gemalten Bilder nebst ihrem Foto aufgehangen hat, sodass er sie immer vor Augen hat. Ein Brief seiner Tochter und ein Foto von ihr und ihrer Schwester trug er in seiner Brusttasche, nahe am Herzen, als er ein paar Monate später fiel.
,,Oh my love, my love, what shall I do- but I must be brave and believe all will be well- dear one, surely God won't take you from me now. It will be the end of everything that matters because, oh English man, you are all the world and life to me."
Das schrieb Phyllis Kelly aus Irland sehr aufgewühlt in einen nie abgeschickten Brief an Ihren Engländer Eric Appleby kurz nachdem sie erfahren hatte, dass er ernsthaft verletzt worden war. Noch nicht lange davor hatte er ihr in einem Brief erzählt, wie sie gemeinsam bald ein Wochenende verbringen könnten und dass ihre Briefe ihn die Bestialität des Krieges für einen kurzen Moment vergessen lassen. Sie wollten nach dem Krieg heiraten und hofften auf die Zukunft. Er erlag jedoch seinen Wunden. Phyllis heiratete nie und ein Bild von Eric hing zeitlebens stets über ihrem Bett.
Dies ist die Beschreibung von nur zwei der vielen Briefe, die für dieses Buch zusammengetragen wurden. Es sind herzzerreißende Zeilen, die zu dieser schlimmen Zeit ausgetauscht wurden. Zeilen der Hoffnung, Zeilen der Sehnsucht und Liebe, aber auch manch einzelne amüsante, die man nicht erwartet. Auch Briefe von Vera Brittain, Hemingway und Churchill wurden abgedruckt. Korrespondenz, die für so viele Menschen während des Krieges überlebenswichtig war und die in diesem Büchlein festgehalten wurde📖



Das Buch stand bereits ein Weilchen noch ungelesen in meinem Regal. Ich erinnere mich, dass ich es damals kaufte, weil ich erste Hand Korrespondenz lesen wollte von Menschen, die diesen schlimmen Krieg damals wirklich durchleben mussten. Und ich wollte diese von unterschiedlichen Menschen lesen, aus verschiedenen Nationen, nicht nur aus der Sicht von Deutschen oder Alliierten. Dieses Buch hat dies erfüllen können. Die Briefe kamen aus Großbritannien, USA, Kanada, Australien, Frankreich, Deutschland, Russland, Italien und Neuseeland. Von Liebenden auch über die Feindeslinien hinaus. Manche kämpfende Soldaten erzählten ihrer Liebsten die ungeschönte Wahrheit, manche spielten die Umstände herunter und sagten ihnen, sie sollen aufhören sich Sorgen zu machen. Es wurde von der Zukunft geträumt, in schönen Erinnerungen geschwelgt, Herzen gebrochen, selbst geschriebene Gedichte ausgetauscht, Heiratsanträge formuliert und sich bei Vorgesetzten beschwert, weil der Angebetete noch keinen Heimaturlaub bekommen hatte.
Auch wenn sie aus so vielen unterschiedlichen Ländern kamen und auch auf verschiedenen Seiten kämpften- die Sehnsucht nach ihren Liebsten, nach Zuhause und die Hoffnung auf ein baldiges Ende dieses Krieges einte sie.
Sehr lobenswert fand ich die schöne und respektvolle Gestaltung des Büchleins. Vor jedem Brief gab es eine kurze Einleitung mit Infos zu den Schreibenden. Manchmal wurden Teile des echten Briefes abgedruckt oder auch Fotos der Absender/innen und Empfänger/innen. Oftmals erfuhr man vom tragischen Schicksal eines Soldaten oder auch glücklichen Fortleben. Oftmals gab es aber auch gar keine Informationen, was natürlich schade war, wenn man gerade einen Brief als sehr herzerwärmend empfunden hatte und gerne erfahren hätte, was weiter mit der Person geschehen war.
Die 240 Seiten ließen sich in Englisch sehr gut und flott lesen, jedoch nahm ich mir meine Zeit, denn mehrmals entfuhr mir nach einem rührenden Brief ein trauriges Seufzen und ich musste eine kurze Pause einlegen. Wer sich für ergreifende Worte und Schicksale dieser Zeit interessiert, dem kann ich das Büchlein sehr empfehlen. (5/5)⭐️🙂

[Jemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of letters sent and received during World War I. The letters in this book are romantic, heart wrenching, desperate and sometimes there’s a glimpse of humour. During the Great War, close to twenty thousand bags of mail crossed the English Channel per day! This is but a teeny, tiny handful of those letters.

In a time when life was so uncertain, words played such an important role in reassuring not only the person for whom the letter was written but the writer themselves. Read these letters and be transported to a time before the internet; wayyy before social media, texting and Skype/Zoom/Facetime. Personally I find it had to imagine not being able to immediately reach my partner, I get frustrated when my parents don’t answer their mobiles (they’re called mobile phones because they’re mobile - you can take them places!!!). How tense I would have been during WWI! 😅😅😅

Before each letter is a brief contextual background which helps to ground the couple in question. A word of warning some of these will make you emotional, but it is definitely a book worth reading 💕

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sweet, touching, tearful, and exasperating all at the same time!
Love Letters has just about every kind of letter you could imagine from WW1. Letters from sweethearts, from a son to mother, from fighting couples, too young couples, married couples, 'dear John' letters, well known, unknown, French, German, Russian, Indian, you name it.
I only wish that we could've read more of the letters between the couples. At times I was left wanting to know what happened to them. Did they survive the war?? The Flu Epidemic?
As it is, the author gives a brief back story to the letter. Occasionally she writes the conclusion to the couples relationship. Be prepared - many are sad! A few photos also are included.

[willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and very moving collection of love letters that’s not only about love but also about the hardship, despair, hope, heartache, helplessness, fear, cheerfulness despite grave circumstances, faith, grief and every color of emotion. Reading it is truly a roller coaster of emotions. Even though the letters were written more than a century ago the rawness of the words is still there as if they were written just yesterday. This compilation gives you a tiny glimpse of the inner world of both men on the battlefield and their awaiting wives and sweethearts during that time of history. Though it feels a bit intrusive to read private correspondence, I’d like to think that it is way of keeping these anonymous people and their love alive.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a compelling and haunting read that was actually quite unexpected.

I loved that each letter had it's own voice and story, and yet as a collection showed the unified hardships that people - regardless of their age, gender or nationality- suffered.

As a history student and someone who enjoys language I loved seeing what life was like on both sides (home and the front) and the language used by those writing the letters.

I don't know why I can't give a five star rating. I guess the reader in me wanted the full picture whether that be a happy or sad ending. Rather than just we don't know what happened here. Even as the historian knows this is probably an impossible task.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only way to understand a war is to see and hear the stories of those living through it (& sadly those who died too.) This book gives the reader a chance to imagine and understand the extreme range of emotions with 'snippets' of some of those stories. Imagining that these letters were multiplied by very many millions; travelling between the British, French, German, and other countries at war, in the trenches, gives us a unique perspective, which has been edited well by Mandy Kirby. There should never be another war, but regrettably, over one hundred years later, we've still not evolved into a peace-loving world.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think in a way giving this book a star rating is somewhat disingenuous, since the authors of the letters within it probably weren't expecting me to be reading them 100 years later and forming an opinion of their writing.

Thankfully, this book mostly reminded me that people are fundamentally always people, and the number of times I sobbed over it probably backs that up.

A few quotes:

'One can have lots of kisses in a taxi when needs must! Aren't I getting depraved?'

'But he admits he has difficulty putting his feelings into words and adds thirty-six kisses to compensate.'

[Dave E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little collection of, if not always "love letters", then letters between loved ones. They provided a glimpse into the private thoughts and lives of combatants from a variety of nationalities, although a majority were from Britain. For most, the editor did include little snippets of information when available, about the writer or intended recipient of the letters when known, but of course this left me wanting to more.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting in that it makes things feel so inconsequential today in comparison. We will never again know the hardships they faced. When a letter is all you have of someone.... makes me grateful for the communication we have now and the loved ones to share it with.

Absolutely detest the infantilization and the way these men talk to their wives. Calling your wife "little girl".... what a time...

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The range of emotion encapsulated in these letters was astounding. I was delighted to see that it was not merely a collection of wholesome and romantic love letters, but also ones of betrayal, heartbreak, and overwhelming sorrow. It was a wholly unique reading experience, being able to catch such an intimate poetic glimpse into the lives of people over a century ago. Simply put, a very moving read.

[Despina · Rating 5 out of 5]

2019 Good Reads Reading Challenge
[OCTOBER - "I just wanna tell you that some people have war in their countries"]

Wonderful and poignant collection of letters sent from or to soldiers fighting on the front during WW1. It really makes you reconsider a couple of things in life and strikes straight to the heart in some cases. Lest we forget....

[Leoni Siakidou · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Iris, I am a bunch of longing dissolved in a sea of happiness in your love.”
- 2nd Lieutenant Clifford Vincent to Iris Dutton

Note that not all letters were love letters. It includes a few separation letters and letters written to their children. It was interesting to read a different perspective, however the title can be misleading.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful and vast depiction of love and how it really transcends all things even the darkest of them!! Although heartbreaking at times, it is also an incredibly encouraging glimpse of humanity and the love we are all inherently capable of holding for another! This was such a quick and beautiful read!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, but emotionally demanding read. Some of these letters are absolutely heartbreaking. There is a nice selection both from soldiers and from their sweethearts at home, from many nations that fought in the war (including Germany).

[عبدُ الرَّحمن · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to read how war devastated the lives of couples and families in the same degree it did claimed the lives of millions of people.

" Love knows no distance, time is ours and beauty finds no breaking-shore..."
Soldier to his sweetheart 1918

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading the letters between wife and husband, fiances, and boyfriend and girlfriend etc. The letters are so sweet and some of sad go read and makes me curious as to how relationships now would be if they had to go through something like that today.

[Judith Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have preferred to read a book with letters from one couple, because one always wonders about the rest of the history.
Some of the letters were very touching, some not so much. All in all a book worth reading but I don't think it's one I will return to.

[Erika Prado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut wrenching… One of the few books I’ve read where most of the time I had a lump in my throat. An excellent selection of love letters of all kinds, and from all places to those who were missed the most.