WW1 books

Robert Graves's Goodbye to All That isn't fiction but he certainly knows what he's on about. Or did at that time. Later on he went off the deep end a bit.

Yes sorry, I didn't really mean just fiction. But more of a story instead of a factual book - hopefully you know what I mean!

I should have said what it is. It's his war memoirs, from the trenches. Not a history of the war, which I imagine is what you don't want.

There's also Siegfried Sassoon's Memoirs of an Infantry Officer. Also well-written. I don't remember it as well as the Graves, which makes quite an impact.

Vera Brittain's books are polemic but enjoyable. Collected memoirs of George Sherston by Sassoon was a favourite of my late father -- I've not read it. Henri Barbusse (???sp???) "Under Fire" (translated) gives a French perspectve. There was also a book about women ambulance driivers -- autobioigraphy -- "Not so quiet" by Helen Smith which I enjoyed.

Modern -- Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks is a great book.

Erich Maria Remarque: Im Westen nichts Neues. Don't know the English title, but since it's one of the masterpieces of German literature, I suppose there is a translation available.

It's All Quiet on the Western Front. And yes, it's an important anti-war novel.

I haven't read it--only seen the movie--but heard that A Very Long Engagement was quite a good novel.

Nothing fictional about it - Storm of Steel - Ernst Junger

The Great War and Modern Memory
Testament of Youth - V Brittain
A historical and a 'polemic' yet both helped me understand the war and how we have interpreted it.

Thanks for the title, windy.

All quiet on the western front is among the best books I've ever read, and I've lent it to most of my mates who like reading too - immense.