I have not read widely about WWI myself, though I have very strong impressions of it through poetry and documentaries. There is so, SO much material out there that it can be bewildering to know where to start. For what it's worth, I thought this was a helpful article in which a British military historian recommends five books about the subject which he regards as good places to start for those looking to introduce themselves to the topic, get a sense of the immensity of the event and also its permutations not only in the armies or in Britain but across Europe and the world, and touch on some of the main questions that continue to fascinate historians. Here he explains what each recommended book has to offer: https://fivebooks.com/best-books/world-war-i-jonathan-boff/
For me, biographies are always a powerful way to learn about war and other huge events. Wilfred Owen is the person who always comes to my mind first when thinking about an individual whose life story seems to speak so powerfully to the WWI experience. His poetry is among the most famous to have come out of the war; he fought in some of the bloodiest battles, including the Somme, and was hospitalized for shell-shock. While there, he met another of the war's most famous poets, Siegfried Sassoon, and they adored each other (both were queer men, and although I don't think it's generally thought that they consummated an affair - or at least, if they did, it can't be known with any certainty - their correspondence nonetheless read as love letters, particularly on Owen's side). In the end, Owen voluntarily went back to the front rather than sitting out the rest of the war in England, as he could have done due to his medical history. He believed it was important to continue witnessing and writing about the war, and he felt that being an active combatant would give his voice and his critiques authenticity and credibility. He was killed in a meaningless skirmish seven days before the final cease-fire in 1918, at the age of 25.
I hear good things about Dominic Hibberd's 2002 book Wilfred Owen: A New Biography, if you'd like to read more about his life. (I'd like to do the same, I think this is going on my Christmas list). And of course his own collected poetry is widely available, too.
Finally, in our own fandom, oldshrewsburyian is a historian who has written an excellent Holmes story set during WWI, and I think she'd be a great person to talk to about all this :) Here's her fic, for those interested:
The Craven Hive (35627 words) by OldShrewsburyian Chapters: 18/18 Fandom: Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Sherlock Holmes & John Watson Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Historical Character(s), Original Characters, Original Female Character(s) Additional Tags: World War I, Canon Compliant, POV John Watson, Arthur Conan Doyle Canon References, Tea, London, Literary References & Allusions, England (Country), Hospitals, Case Fic, Smoking, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Post-War, Canon-Typical Violence, Death, Original Character Death(s), Original Character(s), Angst, Sherlock Holmes and Bees, Queer Gen, Canon Universe, Friendship/Love, Soldiers, John is a Very Good Doctor, Sherlock Plays the Violin, Background Relationships, Sherlock Holmes & John Watson Friendship, Background Femslash, Post-World War I, Asexual Sherlock, Background Slash, Angst and Feels, Moral Dilemmas, Angst with a Happy Ending, Platonic Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Queerplatonic Relationships Summary:
In the last days of the First World War, Dr. Watson returns from the service for which he departed in "His Last Bow," and looks for a new kind of work. He joins Dr. Arthur Hurst in his pioneering treatment of shell-shocked soldiers. But their work on the forefront of medical research, locked in battle against the destruction of the war, is disrupted by violent death. In addition to the obvious danger near at hand, there is the risk that this will discredit Hurst’s unusual methods. Dr. Watson does the only thing he can do: he calls in Holmes. The case will require their joint expertise, and all the wisdom of their shared experience.
This fic includes lots of emotional conversations, history, architecture, parlor music, and literary allusions. It is appearing in fortnightly installments (every other Sunday), and should be published in its entirety by February 2018.
Post-completion note for the curious: this does not explicitly ship Holmes and Watson as sexual partners, but is designed to be shipping- and shipper-friendly.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2019-12-18 02:42 pm (UTC)For me, biographies are always a powerful way to learn about war and other huge events. Wilfred Owen is the person who always comes to my mind first when thinking about an individual whose life story seems to speak so powerfully to the WWI experience. His poetry is among the most famous to have come out of the war; he fought in some of the bloodiest battles, including the Somme, and was hospitalized for shell-shock. While there, he met another of the war's most famous poets, Siegfried Sassoon, and they adored each other (both were queer men, and although I don't think it's generally thought that they consummated an affair - or at least, if they did, it can't be known with any certainty - their correspondence nonetheless read as love letters, particularly on Owen's side). In the end, Owen voluntarily went back to the front rather than sitting out the rest of the war in England, as he could have done due to his medical history. He believed it was important to continue witnessing and writing about the war, and he felt that being an active combatant would give his voice and his critiques authenticity and credibility. He was killed in a meaningless skirmish seven days before the final cease-fire in 1918, at the age of 25.
I hear good things about Dominic Hibberd's 2002 book Wilfred Owen: A New Biography, if you'd like to read more about his life. (I'd like to do the same, I think this is going on my Christmas list). And of course his own collected poetry is widely available, too.
Finally, in our own fandom, oldshrewsburyian is a historian who has written an excellent Holmes story set during WWI, and I think she'd be a great person to talk to about all this :) Here's her fic, for those interested:
The Craven Hive (35627 words) by OldShrewsburyian
Chapters: 18/18
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes & John Watson
Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Historical Character(s), Original Characters, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: World War I, Canon Compliant, POV John Watson, Arthur Conan Doyle Canon References, Tea, London, Literary References & Allusions, England (Country), Hospitals, Case Fic, Smoking, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Post-War, Canon-Typical Violence, Death, Original Character Death(s), Original Character(s), Angst, Sherlock Holmes and Bees, Queer Gen, Canon Universe, Friendship/Love, Soldiers, John is a Very Good Doctor, Sherlock Plays the Violin, Background Relationships, Sherlock Holmes & John Watson Friendship, Background Femslash, Post-World War I, Asexual Sherlock, Background Slash, Angst and Feels, Moral Dilemmas, Angst with a Happy Ending, Platonic Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Queerplatonic Relationships
Summary:
In the last days of the First World War, Dr. Watson returns from the service for which he departed in "His Last Bow," and looks for a new kind of work. He joins Dr. Arthur Hurst in his pioneering treatment of shell-shocked soldiers. But their work on the forefront of medical research, locked in battle against the destruction of the war, is disrupted by violent death. In addition to the obvious danger near at hand, there is the risk that this will discredit Hurst’s unusual methods. Dr. Watson does the only thing he can do: he calls in Holmes. The case will require their joint expertise, and all the wisdom of their shared experience.
This fic includes lots of emotional conversations, history, architecture, parlor music, and literary allusions. It is appearing in fortnightly installments (every other Sunday), and should be published in its entirety by February 2018.
Post-completion note for the curious: this does not explicitly ship Holmes and Watson as sexual partners, but is designed to be shipping- and shipper-friendly.