Publishers, Readers and the Great War: Literature and Memory since 1918

This book explores how and why literature has shaped popular perceptions of the First World War in Britain, demonstrating the role played by authors, publishers, and readers in constructing the memory of the war since 1918. It provides a detailed analysis of critical and popular responses to war books, tracing the evolution of readers' attitudes to the war between 1918 and 2014.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 288 pages
\n Publication date: 18 April 2019
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Literature holds a pivotal position in shaping popular perceptions of the First World War in Britain, perpetuating a prevalent memory that revolves around disillusionment, horror, and futility. This book delves into the intricate mechanisms by which literature has exerted this influence, exploring the roles played by authors, publishers, and readers in constructing the memory of the war since 1918. It reveals that publishers, alongside authors, played a significant role in shaping perceptions of the conflict, offering a detailed analysis of critical and popular responses to war books. By examining the cultural legacy of the war from these previously overlooked perspectives, Vincent Trott provides fresh insights into the emergence of a collective memory of the First World War in Britain.

Drawing upon a diverse range of primary source materials, including publishers' correspondence, dust jackets, advertisements, book reviews, and diary entries, Publishers, Readers, and the Great War offers a comprehensive and nuanced analysis of the climate within which First World War literature was written, published, and received since 1918. The book examines canonical authors such as Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, and Vera Brittain alongside long-forgotten texts and more recent autobiographical works by Harry Patch and Henry Allingham, shedding light on the diverse range of voices and perspectives that contributed to the construction of the war's memory.

Through its meticulous exploration, Publishers, Readers, and the Great War offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex interplay between literature, culture, and memory, providing a rich tapestry of insights that challenge our preconceived notions of the war and its enduring impact on British society.

\n Weight: 446g\n
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 21 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781474291484\n \n