What do you think?
Rate this book
Lest We Forget, World War Stories
Excerpt from Lest We Forget, World War Stories
Books and articles in astounding numbers have been published in the past four years to explain the World War and to inform the public as to its progress. Socie ties and agencies of the government have urged that every available means be employed to inform the American people of the reasons for the war and the issues at stake; and much has been done for adults.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Books and articles in astounding numbers have been published in the past four years to explain the World War and to inform the public as to its progress. Socie ties and agencies of the government have urged that every available means be employed to inform the American people of the reasons for the war and the issues at stake; and much has been done for adults.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2008
51 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 6, 2022
Published in 1918.
This is one of those books about World War I (The Great War) that, as I was looking for another title, I came across and said to myself, “Whoa, Nellie! This looks interesting.”
And so, I picked it up and read it.
Lest We Forget World War Stories is a collection of mostly analysis and opinions of events during The Great War. Sometimes the tone comes across high-hatted to me, sometimes just matter-of-fact with little sway in any direction.
The author spends a great deal of time placing blame on Nicholas II. For example,
We see that they also push the idea that Nicholas II “was very much under the influence of his wife” and she was under the influence of “Rasputin, the Black Monk.”
What was most striking to me is the anti-German attitude throughout, almost to the point of pounding, pounding, pounding. Looking at the causes of The Great War a little over a century later adds more light upon the causes – therefore, what is asserted in this book has not had the luxury of time and deeper analysis. The authors suggest that this book “ may be used as a reading book or as an historical reader for the upper grammar grades.” I agree, with the caveat that it is ideal for deconstruction in both history and English classes.
Further on, we read that the author has a definite slant against anything German:
And we read that
The author submits that the German government follows the idea that “once a German, always a German,” and that once the German emigres settled in the United States and became American citizens, they were still expected to support and fight for Germany, but “events have proved that most German-Americans have higher ideals of right.” Though there are no concrete examples of that in this particular essay, I tend to agree, for to paint every microcosm of society, no matter how one divides it or categorizes it, in an unyielding manner is too unbelievable. There are always exceptions.
What I am understanding is that these essays beat down the Kaiser and the German government to no end, and by golly, it is all the fault of Germany for The Great War.
It is, in fact, more complex than that.
A fact that I learned some things about these two war poets:
Alan Seeger is the uncle of folk singer Pete Seeger.
Generally, Lest We Forget World War Stories is a good resource to discover a little more about the thoughts of The Great War contemporaries. I enjoyed it, even with its emotional heavy-handedness on placing blame left and right. Again, the passage of more than a century usually reveals more facts and information. This work may also be a useful resource as we watch the current international events in 2022.
🟣Kindle version.
This is one of those books about World War I (The Great War) that, as I was looking for another title, I came across and said to myself, “Whoa, Nellie! This looks interesting.”
And so, I picked it up and read it.
Lest We Forget World War Stories is a collection of mostly analysis and opinions of events during The Great War. Sometimes the tone comes across high-hatted to me, sometimes just matter-of-fact with little sway in any direction.
The author spends a great deal of time placing blame on Nicholas II. For example,
As the Tsar grew older he drew away from touch with the people, and lived in his palaces, leaving affairs of state to his ministers who were chosen from a small and selfish clique. They brought on the war with Japan, and its failure was due to them. When Russia was defeated, the people were on the brink of a revolution; but the Tsar promised them a constitution, and trouble was put off for a while. When the people were quiet again, he broke his word and did not give them a constitution. Instead, in every way possible, he lessened the power and freedom of the people, and took revenge upon those who had caused the trouble by having them arrested and exiled, or executed.
We see that they also push the idea that Nicholas II “was very much under the influence of his wife” and she was under the influence of “Rasputin, the Black Monk.”
What was most striking to me is the anti-German attitude throughout, almost to the point of pounding, pounding, pounding. Looking at the causes of The Great War a little over a century later adds more light upon the causes – therefore, what is asserted in this book has not had the luxury of time and deeper analysis. The authors suggest that this book “ may be used as a reading book or as an historical reader for the upper grammar grades.” I agree, with the caveat that it is ideal for deconstruction in both history and English classes.
Further on, we read that the author has a definite slant against anything German:
“The rulers of Germany have for years forbidden anything taught in their schools which did not praise Germany and make the children believe their Emperor to be a god. . . .The pupils are taught in history, geography, and even in reading, only those facts about other countries which show how much inferior they are to Germany. . .. So the pupils have never learned the true and the interesting things about other countries.
And we read that
A German boy is trained into a soldier, hard-hearted and deceitful. The pupils in school are made to spy on one another, and the teachers, too, spy on one another. An American boy was expelled from a German gymnasium in Berlin, because he refused to "tattle-tale" on the pupils in his class. . . .The Germans have not been taught to respect the rights of others,—no one apparently has any personal rights.
The author submits that the German government follows the idea that “once a German, always a German,” and that once the German emigres settled in the United States and became American citizens, they were still expected to support and fight for Germany, but “events have proved that most German-Americans have higher ideals of right.” Though there are no concrete examples of that in this particular essay, I tend to agree, for to paint every microcosm of society, no matter how one divides it or categorizes it, in an unyielding manner is too unbelievable. There are always exceptions.
What I am understanding is that these essays beat down the Kaiser and the German government to no end, and by golly, it is all the fault of Germany for The Great War.
It is, in fact, more complex than that.
A fact that I learned some things about these two war poets:
“Rupert Brooke enlisted in the English navy, and Alan Seeger enlisted in the French army as one of the Foreign Legion. . . . [and] . . . Alan Seeger has written two poems that all Americans should know. One is entitled "Ode in Memory of the American Volunteers Fallen for France." Another is, “I Have a Rendezvous with Death.”
Alan Seeger is the uncle of folk singer Pete Seeger.
Generally, Lest We Forget World War Stories is a good resource to discover a little more about the thoughts of The Great War contemporaries. I enjoyed it, even with its emotional heavy-handedness on placing blame left and right. Again, the passage of more than a century usually reveals more facts and information. This work may also be a useful resource as we watch the current international events in 2022.
🟣Kindle version.
Displaying 1 of 1 review