In Flanders Fields: The Story Of John McCrae, His Poem And The Poppy

by Herwig Verleyen

Genres: World War I, Nonfiction

63 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book in Ypres, after visiting the In Flanders Fields Museum, named after the poem by John McCrae. It tells the life story of the author of the poem, how it got to be so important and also how the poppy became the symbol of the war and of remembrance.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Dad purchased this for me whilst on a trip to Ypres a few years ago. It was originally written in Flemish, and has been translated so carefully. I am fascinated by John McCrae – he has been one of my favourite poets since I was about twelve – and I oddly knew very little about him. Verleyen, as well as writing of his subject, sets out McCrae’s fascinating family history, and how the family came to settle in Canada, where John was born. Verleyen writes with such clarity about McCrae’s use of poetry as an outlet for the horrors which he witnessed during the First World War, whilst he was stationed between Boezinge and Ypres. It is a lovely book, with a lot of wonderfully researched history within it.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tiny book had such a powerful impact on me. The author has done well compacting presumably what was a lot of information into a very easy to read book.

The author gives us information about the poet, the possible inspiration of the poem, and it's legacy, including much information I didn't know.

I was also stunned into tears at one point when I realised that the poem had been conceived exactly 83 years before I was born. That's just one lifetime, really.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visited Flanders Field Museum in Ypres and picked up this little history book on John McCrae and the incredible story of the writing of the “In Flanders Field” poem. Very emotional passing through the menin gates for me, where my grandfather marched in WW1, very informative if you’re interested in WW1.