Siegfried Sassoon emerged as a pivotal voice in war poetry, his work profoundly shaped by the horrors of World War I. While his early verses explored pastoral themes, his wartime experiences ignited a powerful commitment to depicting the brutal realities and futility of conflict. Sassoon's distinctive style is characterized by biting irony and a deep social conscience, establishing him as a significant chronicler of the soldier's plight. His poetry remains a potent testament to human suffering and a timeless plea for peace.
The book has been expertly reformatted and retyped to ensure clarity and readability for contemporary readers. Aimed at preserving its historical significance, the modern edition allows both present and future generations to engage with this classical work. By avoiding scanned copies, the text maintains a fresh and accessible presentation, emphasizing the importance of keeping such essential literature alive.
The third volume of Siegfried Sassoon's trilogy continues the poignant exploration of George Sherston's experiences during World War I. It delves into the complexities of war, personal identity, and the impact of conflict on the human spirit. With a new introduction by historian Paul Fussell, this edition enriches the narrative by providing historical context and insights into Sassoon's literary significance. The memoir captures the essence of a soldier's journey, blending humor and tragedy in a compelling narrative.
Selected for its cultural significance, this work contributes to the foundational knowledge of civilization. It offers insights that have been recognized by scholars as essential for understanding historical and societal contexts.
The book is a facsimile reprint of a scarce antiquarian work, preserving its historical significance despite potential imperfections like marks and flawed pages. It aims to protect and promote important literature by providing affordable, high-quality modern editions that remain true to the original text.
For "The War Poems of Siegfried Sassoon," Sir Rupert Hart-Davis has arranged the poems as far as possible in the order of their composition. A useful Biographical Table is also included, so that students, scholars, and other readers can trace the movement of the soldier alongside the mind of the poet. Fourteen of the poems in this volume are published for the first time.
The Complete Memoirs of George Sherston includes Sherston's Progress and both Memoirs,
Propped against the bank, his blond face undisfigured, except by the mud which I wiped from his eyes and mouth with my coat sleeve. Anyhow I hadn't expected the Battle of the Somme to be quite like this. This first-hand account of the face of battle is as beautifully written as it is historically significant.
Sassoon's fame as a novelist and autobiographer, and the success of his posthumously published Diaries, have somewhat obscured his achievement as a poet. Apart from the famous War Poems of 1919, which firmly established his reputation, he published eight volumes of verse during his lifetime. This collected edition represents his own choice of the poems he wished to preserve. It was first published in 1947 and subsequently enlarged to include the late poems in Sequences.
