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The Great Silence 1918-1920, Living In The Shadow Of The Great War (2009)

by Juliet Nicolson(Favorite Author)

3.82 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

155278889X (ISBN13: 9781552788899)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

McArthur and Company

review 1: If you want to read more about some of the plot points in "Downton Abbey", read "The Great Silence"...a slice of 1918-1920 British history. From the end of the war until the ceremony for the burial of the unknown soldier at Westminster Abbey, these stories run sad, to social, to grisly, to everyday, and back. A little jazz, a lot of changes in the work place/big estates, more than enough medical procedures, newsmaker exposes, and a lot of grieving families. You'll never look at Armistice Day the same way again. Surely you can spare 2 minutes of silence on the 11th day of the 11th month each year.
review 2: I've always been fascinated with how people coped during and after World War I. As with most wars, they thought it would end quickly. Each side convinced th... moreat the other would drop their weapons after the first shots were fired. It wasn't touched on much in this book, but the weaponry of WWI far exceeded the expectation and ability of the soldiers and doctors. You have the introduction of nerve and mustard gas. The utter futility of trench warfare and the constant barrage of shells and fear of death at any minute. I'm amazed so many were able to return to "fairly" normal lives afterwards.I don't recall there being any mention of Gallipoli, but so many soldiers died horrible deaths, or endured a torturous existence because the war was being run by politicians who had no idea what was happening on the front lines. I think that was a pivotal point that should have been addressed in this book. The average British citizen slowly realized that their betters we incompetent. It broke down the rigid class structure. It made people question every aspect of how they were living. It brought to the forefront that the British Empire was crumbling and would never regain its pre-WWI glory.Is it any wonder that once the war ended people wanted to forget, to quench their withered souls with alcohol and drugs and music and parties. No, not at all. The author did a lovely job of tracking the insights of various individuals from their perspectives. I think this is a wonderful companion to the PBS show Downtown Abby. It explains some of the literature and entertainers mentioned in this season. It's sad to think that the children of this generation were then sent to fight in World War II. A war probably - for one can't be sure - brought on by the constraint put on Germany after WWI. less

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