The Great War: Myth and Memory

(Paperback)

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The First World War, with its mud and the slaughter of the trenches, is often taken as the ultimate example of the futility of war. Generals, safe in their headquarters behind the lines, sent millions of men to their deaths to gain a few hundred yards of ground. Writers, notably Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, provided unforgettable images of the idiocy and tragedy of the war. Yet this vision of the war is at best a partial one, the war only achieving its status as the worst of wars in the last thirty years. At the time, the war aroused emotions of pride and patriotism. Not everyone involved remembered the war only for its miseries. The generals were often highly professional and indeed won the war in 1918. In this original and challenging book, Dan Todman shows views of the war have changed over the last ninety years and how a distorted image of it emerged and became dominant.

Reviews

[A] concise and challenging - even courageous - study ... Todman has written a book that marches boldly beyond his own discipline to range freely over the cultural context of the war, emphasizing how time has altered the way that it was and is seen by the British public as the postwar period moved through distinct phases roughly coinciding with the passing decades. -- Nigel Jones * History Today *
Former military history teacher and current lecturer in modern British history Dan Todman presents The Great War: Myth and Memory, a close examination of how perceptions of World War I have changed over the past ninety years, arguing that a distorted image of the war- one focusing too heavily upon its miseries- has dominated its understanding in present-day culture. The Great War debunks myths and reveals the astutely professional capabilities of its generals. From questioning the prevalence of mud and donkeys in popular perception of WWI, to examination of primary sources revealing differing views among veterans, The Great War: Myth and Memory is a welcome addition to history shelves for its counterbalance upon the enormous influence popular culture (from comics to war movies) has upon collective historical memory. -- Internet Bookwatch

Author Bio

Dan Todman is Senior Lecturer in Modern British History at Queen Mary, University of London, UK and has previously taught military history at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.