Product Description

Critical introductions to a range of literary topics and genres. The Great War of 1914-18 continues to fascinate readers and writers. This book aims to explore the different ways in which this war has featured both as a genre and as a theme in British literature of the past century; it asks what actually is the literature of the Great War, and looks at different ways in which people have read this literature, reacted to it and used it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15564 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-20
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Synopsis
Critical introductions to a range of literary topics and genres. The Great War of 1914-18 continues to fascinate readers and writers. This book aims to explore the different ways in which this war has featured both as a genre and as a theme in British literature of the past century; it asks what actually is the literature of the Great War, and looks at different ways in which people have read this literature, reacted to it and used it.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
I bought this book to find out more about the literature of the First World War. Yet, when I opened it, I was surprised to find a lack of information about even the most famous poems and books on the subject. And then I found the reason: on page 9 of the introduction, the writer explains his choice of texts and extracts in Part 3 (pages 73-95): "Most of the material in this section is not easily accessible elsewhere; poems already easily found in anthologies of war poetry and extracts from familiar novels still in print have not been included". In other words, this book talks a fair bit about books and poems that you probably haven't come across before but you'll look in vain for a complete poem by Owen or a decent extract from one of Sassoon's books. This is really, really annoying. I got the book to help me find my way in to the literature about the period. This book is no help at all. A real waste of money.

A very useful book for A level students of FWW literature
Adrian Barlow's book is a very useful introduction for anyone teaching FWW literature to A-level students. It is thoughtfully written and clearly laid out. There are some very useful features, including a section on how to approach FWW texts, several extracts from novels and letters as well as several poems (including some less well-known poems, I am pleased to see). There is also a good section on 'Critical Approaches' to FWW literature - including much needed and valuable comments on anthologising the FWW and gender & feminist approaches to the literature. There is also a discussion of how to write about 'the Great War in British literature' which I am sure students will find helpful, plus a selection of resources - including a short list of web sites. All in all this is a very good book and worth its price. I would not hesitate to recommend it.