Poetry of the First World War

This anthology of First World War poetry consists of the works of a wide range of poets, many of whom were killed in the war. Accompanying each poem is a contemporary photograph, taken in such areas as the forward trenches, behind the lines and in the base camps. The anthology is arranged chronologically, beginning with the patriotic, jingoistic fervour of 1914, and then gradually charting the move to a more realistic mood, culminating in the disillusion, resignation and anger felt so strongly by the men at the front. The poets included range from A.E.Housman and Thomas Hardy, whose writing influenced the soldier poets, to those who actually fought at the front, such as Brooke, Sassoon and Owen. There are some unexpected contributions from those who volunteered, but did not see active service, such as Laurence Binyon and W.W.Gibson, and Rudyard Kipling, who had written about soldiers long before the War, and whose only son was killed in action.