First World War Centenary News Archive

Publisher’s Description: ‘This anthology combines some of the greatest poetry to have emerged from the 1914-18 conflict with an extraordinary collection of paintings from contemporary artists, mainly sourced from the Imperial War Museum.’Centenary News Comment: This is a moving anthology that pairs poetry with art of the First World War. Organised thematically, the art pairings perfectly complement the poetry as well as being enlightening in their own right.

Publisher’s Description: ‘The Great War was the first in our history to have a deep impact on every aspect of civilian life. In an overdue attempt to portray the real effect of the War on life at home, David Bilton examines all the major events of the period and charts their effect on everyday life for those trying to live a normal existence.’

Publisher’s description: “This collection, edited by Professor Paul O’Prey, looks to challenge the notion that all war poetry was of a similar anti-war sentiment, focusing on fifteen poets who all saw active military service and composed poems while they worked, nursed and fought.Poems from the Front includes ‘November 11th’ by Robert Graves, appearing for the first time as a poem in its own right. A street ballad, it was written in draft to arts patron Edward Marsh in November 1918. Persuaded not to publish it that year, Graves instead released a version in 1969, considering it unprintable until then. “Centenary News Comment: “O’Prey has collected a multitude of voices to reflect the authentic experience of life on the front line. It is a compelling, emotive and eye-opening anthology.”

Publisher’s Description: ‘ A raw and shockingly honest portrait of men engaged in war, ‘that peculiarly human activity’, the original edition was subject to ‘prunings and excisions’ because the bluntness of language was thought to make the book unfit for public distribution. This edition restores them.’