We all know how prolific and culturally influential Great War poetry has been over the past century – but for every poem written about the war, there was at least one short story. Though these stories are far less commonly remembered, they can shed plenty of light on attitudes and concerns linked to the war and its legacy. Short fiction was widely published in the British press, in magazines and also in newspapers, including the war stories of 'Sapper' H. C. McNeile (best known for his 'Bulldog Drummond' novels) in the Daily Mail. This talk looks at a range of stories that explore the varied concerns and experiences of British readers (and writers) as reflected in a genre close to the pulse of ordinary citizens.
Dr. Ann-Marie Einhaus is Associate Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature in the Department of Humanities, Northumbria University, Newcastle. She is the author of The Short Story and the First World War and editor of The Cambridge Companion to the English Short Story among others.
Image credit: www.greatwardustjackets.co.uk