Publisher's Synopsis
For the people who fought in it, the World War I was a cataclysm. The sheer scale of its horror and carnage transformed their lives and attitudes to an extent that has coloured the way in which every subsequent generation has thought of war. Nothing shows this more clearly than the work of the poets, writers and artists of the trenches - the creators of a unique cultural heritage that reflects their hopes, fears, doubts, initial optimism and ultimate cynicism.;Year by year, from the heady patriotism of August 1914 to the last war-weary moments before the final cease-fire over the four years later, this book reveals the innermost thoughts and feelings of the writers who voiced the aspirations of a doomed generation. Each chapter contains a commentary to put the work of the poets into the context of the time, plus a carefully chosen selection of poems. Contemporary paintings by war artists such as Nash and Spencer, cartoons, memorabilia and dramatic photographs provide a fascinating visual insight which amplifies this vivid record of the war years.
