World War Wednesdays: First World War Literature

     I always feel as though I never give enough attention, both on the blog and in my own work, to the First World War. This is certainly not for lack of interest, it's just that my area of focus obsession happens to be the Second World War. When I think about WWI, it registers as the most terrible and unimaginable event in modern history, and I find it difficult to be objective and not assign such strong emotions to its study. A lot of the time, I find it difficult to read the experiences of those involved, and the circumstances of its major events. However, I have found some great written works which have allowed me to make some connections and gain a deeper understanding, and I've decided to compile a few of my favorites in the hopes that they will do the same for you.

Canada At War by S. Bradley Gundy, 1919

Excerpt from the introduction to chapter one: "The Eve of the Storm in Canada" (5):
   
     "When, on August 4, 1914, the world's liberties, the existence of small nations, the mastery of the seas, the lordship of Europe, the dominance of the world, were thrown into a vast crucible of war, Canada, as a Dominion of the British Empire, was a prosperous community, with a contented people holding rich resources in fee for the future and building slowly but surely upon foundations which had been carefully laid and safeguarded. It was a new country, a young nationality, crude in some of its developments, clever and progressive in others, aggressively independent in all phases of life and thought."

This captures perfectly the image that I have in my mind of Canada at the time of the outbreak of the First World War. When it comes to historical literature I have always gravitated to the old, dusty, original accounts which employ strong and illustrious language in their descriptions of historical events (for example the writings of Winston Churchill). I feel that they combine great literature with historical facts to make truly artful and interesting works, which are two of my greatest interests.