BOOK REVIEWS
![[Image]](pict54.jpg) |
Graves and Sassoon |
Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon have a place in many people's conception of the Great War. Their autobiographical post-war writings introduced many people to the subject of the war, and have been consistently in print ever since they were written. Certainly the first book which I can remember buying, at the age of about 14, was Graves's "Goodbye to All That".
Both men served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, that meeting-place of so many literary minds during the war, and both wrote about the experience afterwards. However, not having to confine themselves to historical fact, both men were free to put a certain gloss on events as they chose to describe them, and this makes it difficult to separate the real biographical and historical fact from the opinions, prejudices and perceptions of the writers.
This book by Helen McPahil and Philip Guest tries to unravel some of the mysteries by presenting the reader with a well-researched account of both men's service in the war. At first, the idea of combing both men's stories in one book seemed an odd one. After all, their paths didn't cross as often as one might think, even though they served in the same regiment. But having read the book, I believe the idea works very well. While specifically considering the events as they related to one of the poets, the circumstances of the other are always borne in mind, making it easy for the reader to trace their paths relative to each other, diverging for a time and then coming together again. Considering both men in the same book also makes it possible to compare and contrast their personalities and motivations.
The book gives a clear picture of what both men did during their war service referring to their own writings, the writings of others who knew them and, of course the official records of their units. Especially interesting to my mind was the way in which the writers are often able to pinpoint not just the inspiration for a particular poem, but also the historical background and actual location. From time to time, where appropriate, there are "battlefield Tour" directions for the reader who wishes to visit the areas described and see for themselves the places which figure strongly in the stories of Graves and Sassoon. In some of these places today, there is much in the shape of memorials and other interpretive material to help the visitor. I am thinking of Mametz Wood here. In other areas though, such as the place where Sassoon received the head wound which ended his active service, there is nothing on the ground to help the visitor locate the spot, and in such instances the tour directions will be very helpful.
All in all, "Graves and Sassoon" provides a useful and illuminating point of reference for anyone wishing to get some background knowledge of the men and their war-related writings.
Graves and Sassoon
is published by Pen & Sword Books
Soft Covers
192 pages, maps and photographs
ISBN: 0-85052-838-0
Return to the Hellfire Corner Contents Section