Great War (1914-1918): The Society and Culture of the First World War discussion

I'm about halfway through The Monocled Mutineer.
I know it's been discredited to a fair extent by subsequent information, but for the resources available when it was put together, it's a pretty interesting read, especially the access the authors had to veterans and their testimony regarding the Mutiny at Etaples. Does anyone know of any good books dealing with Etaples or the mutiny? I've been casting about, but haven't come across too much. There's plenty on the French mutiny, which is another topic I'd like to investigate further.

Just finished An excellent book about the soldiers at the front and their families. Based mainly around their letters. recommended.

Hi Ian, thanks for the update, I've got a copy but am yet to read it.

After a few good recommendations by other Goodreads members I have started reading; "To End All Wars" by Adam Hochschild.

by Adam Hochschild

I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Bridget wrote: "I'm about halfway through The Monocled Mutineer.
I know it's been discredited to a fair extent by subsequent information, but for the res..."

I haven't found any other book on that subject but the tv miniseries with Paul McCann was much better than the book.

I just rejoined this group and am taking a college course on World War I for the Spring 2012 semester. The main text is Fighting the Great War: A Global History by Michael S Neiberg which I just picked up today. We also have to read Eye-Deep in Hell: Trench Warfare in World War I by John Ellis.

Hi Mark, sounds like a great course. I have a copy of; "Fighting the Grwat War" but I am yet to read it. I have read John Ellis' book and really enjoyed it.

by John Ellis

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Mark, sounds like a great course. I have a copy of; "Fighting the Grwat War" but I am yet to read it. I have read John Ellis' book and really enjoyed it.

by Richard Hamilton and Holger Herwig. Interesting book on the causes of the war, and it emphasizes the decisions made by a group of men in each government as opposed to the "war was inevitable" theory.

Just finished for my WWI I would recommend it to anyone in this group. By the way, in class tonight we watched excerpts from "Gallipoli".

Hi Mark, what did you think of the movie "Gallipoli"? It's fairly old but I remember when it was first released in Australia I could hear people sobbing in the audience when the Light Horse when over the top at the Nek.

Yesterday, I finished reading I Flew with the Lafayette Escadrille, by Edwin C. Parsons, who was himself an ace with the Lafayette Escadrille. (Feel free to check out my review of the book.)




Presently, I'm reading Up And At 'Em by Harold E. Hartney, a First World War ace who flew with both the British and the Americans.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Mark, what did you think of the movie "Gallipoli"? It's fairly old but I remember when it was first released in Australia I could hear people sobbing in the audience when the Light Horse when ov..."

I had seen the movie years ago but the ending is still very powerful.

Just started Up the Line to Death: The War Poets, 1914-1918, compiled by Brian Gardner. Poems written during WWI by poets in war.

Some of them are well known and some I have never heard of. This doesn't say whether they are well known or not, just that I don't know them.

I've read to many books about WWI because I am writing historical fiction set in that period. The latest was Siegfried Sassoon's Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, all the more gripping because he was there.

I just finished reading With Our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918. David Stevenson

A really comprehensive look at the last year of WW I from all angels and sides. Only about 1/3 of the book is about combat operations. The remaining 2/3's of the book looks at the home front and the economies of the waring powers and how that effected decisions and moral of the comabatants.

Stevenson looks at both the Central Powers and the Allies as well as all theaters of the war.

It is definately not for the general/casual reader, but I found it a good read even though I thought it is a little dry in spots.

I've looked at that book a few times and was wondering if it may be a bit too dry for me. Might be one to keep my eyes on though as it seems to offer a different perspective on the Great War. Thanks for the information on the book 'happy'.

Just finished my World War I class last week. We had to read the following five books:

All excellent books in their own way, any favourites out of that bunch Mark?

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "All excellent books in their own way, any favourites out of that bunch Mark?"

Touch choice. Ellis is a good history, but Graves is the best "read" of all five. My major caveat with Graves is that I'm not sure if he's telling the truth.

Hi Mark,

Thanks for that. I have read Eye Deep in Hell back in the 1980's and really enjoyed it. I have a copy of Good-bye To All That that I really should read soon :)

Mark wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "All excellent books in their own way, any favourites out of that bunch Mark?"

Touch choice. Ellis is a good history, but Graves is the best "read" of all five. My major cavea..."

In what respect, please?

I'm reading "Her Privates We", by Frederick Manning, which has its moments! Although it's also a harder slog than some of the other fictional/memoirs I've read.



After that, Undertones of War by Edmund Blunden, I think, or possibly Fly Away Peter by David Malouf depending on my mood.



Incidentally, I am in the process of watching/reading my way through everything about WWI I can get my hands on, an posting reviews here.

Hi Suz, don't you post on Goodreads (reviews and about the books you read)? 'Cause I'd love to friend and follow your progress, as I am doing the same thing currently myself.

Blunden is on my TBR list as well, I already have the book here. Currently I am reading

, and

Hey Steelwhisper. :) Enjoyed our convo re: War Horse!

I do post reviews on Goodreads as well, but since I am watching films/TV I collect everything at the website.

"The Secret Battle" sounds fascinating; how are you finding it?

It's clearly written by a participant of the Great War and it appears to be--so far--not overly romanticised. It's quite reflective and drops the bombshells rather quietly. I'm only 1/4th in so far though.

Just finished and this was a brilliant book, both the diary as well as the sketches and paintings. Go for the hard cover if you buy it. It's worth the extra money.

I've got a copy of that book Steelwhisper, just need to time to get around to reading it! Glad to hear its a good book.

Just finished


-- EXCELLENT!

-- I think this has to be considered a standard work, EXCELLENT!

-- this was horrid. It's already nationalistic, war-mongering propaganda leading up to WWII, very crudely written. The author even acknowledged that he and the publisher (his father) aimed to entice men into service, and is playing down what actually happened while pushing on with God and Country. Eugh. Compared to e.g. A Soldier's Diary--written at the same time and also by an officer--it is pure mockery.

Glad to hear that you enjoyed To End all Wars, it was a pretty good read. I have a copy of A War of Nerves that I am yet to read, soon I hope.

I think you'll enjoy it.

I'll be reading a couple of further works on shell-shock and PTSD, and right now I have my nose in to complement this, as Grossman makes a good case of shell-shock being one consequence of being forced to kill.As it is, War of Nerves is really a foundation work for the topic, I think.

I will do my best to get to it as soon as I can. I also picked up a copy of; The Anatomy of Courage by Lord Moran that I am yet to read. It's only a small book and was first published in 1945 but it sounds like it offers an interesting perspective of this subject matter.


by Charles McMoran Wilson Moran

Laughing so hard, I already ordered it a while ago and it was in my mail yesterday! ;)

Excellent :-)

Steelwhisper, I read The Glory of the Trenches for a paper on the memory and interpretation of WWI. From what I remember, a great deal of the material in this book came from Dawson's letters home to his parents(?), which might explain the...over-optimistic tone. He reminded me in a way of Ernst Junger in terms of finding ones identity in warfare and wanting others to have that experience, though Junger is certainly on a very different place in the psychological spectrum...
I totally agree with you with the genuinely upsetting "God and Country" sentiment, but I did find such an optimistic memoir of interest, if not actually interesting...
I adore A War of Nerves: Soldiers and Psychiatrists in the Twentieth Century, as well as Shell Shock: Traumatic Neurosis and the British Soldiers of the First World War.

Just about to start No Man's Land: Combat and Identity in World War 1

I like the sounds of No Man's Land: Combat and Identity in World War 1 so I will be interested in your final thoughts on the book. I will have to try hard and get to A War of Nerves soon then.

by Eric J. Leed

Bridget wrote: "Steelwhisper, I read The Glory of the Trenches for a paper on the memory and interpretation of WWI. From what I remember, a great deal of the material in this book came from Dawson's letters home ..."

Well, he and his father expressly tailored the content to their needs, AFTER the war, particularly to encourage further young men to enlist (this book was first published in 1919) and to "not frighten parents and relatives". He states exactly that in the foreword and no blush in sight. In my opinion that's straightforward war-mongering and propaganda, and indeed quite in line with Junger who did the same on the other side of the fence. Though Junger may on top of all that have been almost pathologically interested in killing itself.

What I really take exception with are the outright lies he is putting down there and Dawson was absolutely aware of lying.

If you want a "positive" stance to compare to Dawson's I can recommend
A Surgeon in Khaki. He is also quite enthusiastic, very arrogant as well, but at the same time completely forthright and honest to a tee. Unlike Dawson he tells it as it is, his diary was indeed written during the war and Martin was killed before it ended. It's also available as a free ebook on archive.org.

Leed's book sounds quite interesting!

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I like the sounds of No Man's Land: Combat and Identity in World War 1 so I will be interested in your final thoughts on the book. I will have to try hard and get to A War of Nerves soon then.

[bo..."

As it is I find On Killing by Grossman an admirable companion read to the abovementioned books, He refers to quite a few facets and authors of the Great War.

I'm fairly sure that A Surgeon in Khaki: Through France and Flanders in World War I was a part of the paper as well (it was about 8 years ago now, so I'd have to check). But I think your point is very well taken (about Dawson and Junger alike).

I actually liked Martin's voice after I got over that impossible arrogance ;) But then, at the time it would have been quite likely very normal. In hindview I must say that I value his forthrightness even more. He obviously was quite gung-ho about King and Country as well, but he not only showed a decided learning process within the relatively short period of that diary, he also stayed analytical and as objective as he could manage.

Reading Junger gave me the shivers. I had goosebumps due some of his "In Stahlgewittern" and not of the nice kind.

Do post here on Leed please, once you're through. I need a pointer as to whether it is worth ordering ;)

I'm reading "The Zimmerman Telegram" by Barbara Tuchman. It's a pretty short book but a very good read. I've learned a lot of details about the whole affair that I didn't know about before.

Lindsay wrote: "I'm reading "The Zimmerman Telegram" by Barbara Tuchman. It's a pretty short book but a very good read. I've learned a lot of details about the whole affair that I didn't know about before."

Tuchman was already on my TBR pile. Would you recommend this book then?

Most definitely. It gives a detailed background about all the German intrigue that led up to the Zimmerman Telegram and the US entering the war. The story is even a bit humorous sometimes when you read about the blunders made by the German and American governments. I enjoyed it a lot.

Lindsay wrote: "Most definitely. It gives a detailed background about all the German intrigue that led up to the Zimmerman Telegram and the US entering the war. The story is even a bit humorous sometimes when yo..."

Thanks--I will be reading it then. I always wondered how America came into this and am afraid I also always thought it was the Lusitania.

I finished today, liked it a lot, 4* (review available on the book's page), was not at all what I was led to expect!

Sounds like an excellent book Steelwhisper, thanks for letting us all know.

Reading now .

Wow.

Both of your recent reads sound fascinating, Steelwhisper--thanks for the recommendations!

Heh! Your choices in books aren't bad either ;) But "Not So Quiet" is really hefty and extremely well-written.

I just finished

This is an absolutely fantastic book and I recommend it to everyone. My review is here:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...