Guy Cuthbertson est un historien de la littérature dont le travail explore le tissu de la vie et de la mémoire britanniques, en particulier à travers le prisme du début du XXe siècle. Il reconstruit magistralmente l'atmosphère et les événements de moments historiques importants, en s'appuyant sur une riche tapisserie de sources primaires pour créer des récits accessibles et captivants. Son érudition explore souvent la transition de la célébration spontanée à la commémoration réfléchie, révélant comment les expériences collectives évoluent au fil du temps. Grâce à ses recherches méticuleuses et à sa prose perspicace, Cuthbertson offre une représentation vivante du passé, donnant vie à l'histoire pour le lecteur contemporain.
Focusing on Thomas's reaction to the countryside, this volume features a comprehensive introduction that offers biographical insights, details the circumstances of its creation, and contextualizes its themes historically. Each work is accompanied by a headnote to clarify its significance, along with extensive annotations to enhance understanding of Thomas's intricate prose.
The book offers a detailed, hour-by-hour narrative of Armistice Day 1918, capturing the emotional and historical significance of the moment when World War I came to an end. It provides a unique perspective on the events and feelings experienced by people during that pivotal day, marking the centenary with a blend of vivid storytelling and intimate accounts that highlight the profound impact of peace after years of conflict.
"One of Britain's best-known and most loved poets, Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) was killed at age 25 on one of the last days of the First World War, having acted heroically as soldier and officer despite his famous misgivings about the war's rationale and conduct. He left behind a body of poetry that sensitively captured the pity, rage, valor, and futility of the conflict. In this new biography Guy Cuthbertson provides a fresh account of Owen's life and formative influences: the lower-middle-class childhood that he tried to escape; the places he lived in, from Birkenhead to Bordeaux; his class anxieties and his religious doubts; his sexuality and friendships; his close relationship with his mother and his childlike personality. Cuthbertson chronicles a great poet's growth to poetic maturity, illuminates the social strata of the extraordinary Edwardian era, and adds rich context to how Owen's enduring verse can be understood"-- Provided by publisher
A vivid, original, and intimate hour-by-hour account of Armistice Day 1918, to mark its centenary this year