The Great War and Modern Memory, 2nd Edition

“One of the best nonfiction works I’ve ever read. I’m a huge fan of virtually everything Fussell has ever done, but this unique book, which uses literature and social history to examine World War I, may be his best. Unflinching.”–James Gray, The Week”Literary and historical materials, in themselves not unfamiliar, are brought together in a probing, sympathetic, and finally illuminating fashion. It is difficult to think of a scholarly work in recent years that has more deeply engaged the reader at both the intellectual and emotional level.” –The New Republic”Skillful, compassionate…. An important contribution to our understanding of how we came to make World War I part of our minds.” –Frank Kermode, The New York Times Book Review”A learned book that is also bright and sensitive.” –The New Yorker”An original and brilliant piece of cultural history and one of the most deeply moving books I have read in a long time.” –Lionel Trilling”Paul Fussell’s The Great War and Modern Memory introduced an entirely new and creative way of writing both about war and the literature it generates. It has been a profound influence on historians and literary critics alike.” –John Kegan

Paul Fussell was an American cultural and literary historian and critic. He is the author of over 20 works and winner of the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award.