British Literature of World War I

Abstract

Given the popular and scholarly interest in the First World War it is surprising how little contemporary literary work is available. This 5 volume anthology aims to redress this balance, making available a collection of newly-edited short stories from 1914–19. The material presented reflects public perception of the conflict from the time, showing the early focus on heroism, giving way to the darker sentiments of later works. Significant, too, is the focus on writers often overlooked in Great War literature, with female writers and those of working class origins presented alongside the more familiar officer-class gentlemen. Includes stories by John Galsworthy, Berta Ruck, Florence Barclay, Ford Madox Ford, Jessie Pope, Evelyn Sharp. The collection also includes examples of war-time drama.