Superb English and grammar and despite the obvious hardships, mental strain, and fears of the time their story fascinates and teaches. However, by the end of the book it seems Sassoon is becoming a bit more liberal. Perhaps that's the point: contrastingly sharply the aimless, idle existence of a well-to-do sportsman (riding to hounds in winter, playing cricket in the summer) with the sudden trauma of becoming a soldier. He presented his mother with his first ‘volume’ at 11. I enjoyed it. In 1913 he wrote ‘The Daffodil Murderer,’ a parody of a John Masefield poem and his only pre-war success. He had little subsequent contact with ‘Pappy’, who died of TB 4 years later. If your main interest is a history of World War I this is not the book for you. ", This is the second in Siegfried Sassoon's George Sherston books. This account is fast moving, as Sherston gets pushed from pillar to post by the unseen powers in high command. Enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was a really enjoyable read. He published a semi-autobiographical trilogy: Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man (1928), Memoirs of an Infantry Officer (1930), and Sherston's Progress (1936). It starts in the middle of the story arc with the protagonist, George Sherston, returning to the front in 1915 and ends abruptly when he is surreptitiously bungled off by officer friends to a mental hospital in Scotland for his pubic anti-war sentiments. A fictionalised account of Sassoon’s experiences in the trenches during World War I, between the spring of 1916 and the summer of 1917. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2014. Personal story of monumental change of heart, Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2014. He finds himself in the thick of battle on several occasions and Sassoon's descriptions of a soldier's mentality in such extreme situations are fascinating. Please try your request again later. Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967) was a British author and poet. For Sherton, doing anything was important & so when he was involved in a raid, he is most alive. a significant text string to help us to locate the error. Several moments of hideous racism, including slurs. This classic autobiography - and it is, despite his protestations - is a fine edition for anyone … We’d love your help. It begins several months into Sherston's tour of duty in France and covers his combat experiences and changing attitude towards the war.This is still one of the more effective accounts of life in the trenches and ,even eighty-three years after it's initial publication, an effective and visceral read. He was home-schooled until the age of 14 because of ill health. Sassoon/Sherston's memoirs improve with his own growing introspection. I was given this book as a present many years ago and first read it at that time. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. Siegfried Sassoon is my favourite war poet. This book is the middle volume of Siegfried Sassoon's thinly fictionalized Great War experience. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. This book has it's own merit as the other books cited. If your main interest is a history of World War I this is not the book for you. I've read a number of WWI autobiographies, in search of an answer to how and why human beings could survive in the trenches - by every account, a horrific experience. cautious, and preserve the original spelling. An excellent trilogy, and highly recommended. What began as a half-hearted trot through as a 'fox-hunting man' ended in a spirited gallop as I not only completed book two but then went cantering on through the final volume of the trilogy. He was also the editor of the collection Sassoon’s Long Journey. He had little subsequent contact with ‘Pappy’, who died of TB 4 years later. found on this web page; or the contents of the book. His Anglican mother and Jewish father separated when he was five. Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2016. After reading "Memoirs" it is obvious to me how Sassoon survived trench slaughter: he spent a considerable time behind the lines in recovery from illness and a wound, in training, or on leave in England. There's a problem loading this menu right now. This is the second in Siegfried Sassoon's George Sherston books. Sassoon, as many have said, glorifies pastoral England, and mourns its loss. I love the man. by Simon Publications. In the first part of the book Sassoon sums up this volume saying "...those who expect a universalization of the Great War must look for it elsewhere. Either his style grew on me or I just found the content much more interesting. Love this book , had read it about 50 years ago and had always wanted to own a copy so I'm very pleased now. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. It's worth a read, but there are better, more factual memoires available. Indeed, it dazzled me due to its compact lines of words till I wondered if I could read it at all with reasonable understanding and enjoyment. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published The first one is an entertaining book about life in Edwardian England before World War I. Please try again. Sassoon brings you on his personal journey from patriotic soldier to ardent sceptic. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Here at FadedPage and our companion site (seated in front: Having read this trilogy, albeit in the wrong order, I would state that this is the weakest of the three but a great read nonetheless. Highly recommended for those interested in the so-called "Great War" and the experiences of those who fought in it. His name soon rang a bell, hazily, I first knew his name (. I get the feeling that it is closer to being directly autobiographical than the first book of the trilogy, too. He ends up questioning his service in the war. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Sassoon's book is the best written answer I've come across. The parts spent back in England are far more pleasurable and interesting to read than the France bits, but overall this was a bit of a disappointment. It was an insane and fascinating series of battles for strips of land between trenches, backwards and forwards over four insane years. I'd heard it was "one of the great books on WW1" but I'd put it on par with Graves' 'Goodbye to All That'. Decorated for his courage under fire, he nonetheless felt the hopelessness and tragedy of battle. This book covers the really interesting period of Sassoon’s life. Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon One evening about a fortnight later I was down in that too familiar front-line dug-out with Barton, who had just returned from leave and was unable to disguise his depression. You can order men to their deaths for no apparent purpose, and the vast majority of them, if raised as pre-war society deemed proper, will obey, even when they. Highly recommended for those interested in the so-called "Great War" and the experiences of t. Classic WW I memoir thinly disguised as fiction in which 'George Sherston' is the pseudonym for Sassoon. Please try again. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. “I didn't want to die - not before I'd finished reading The Return of the Native anyhow.”, “I have always been considerably addicted to my own company.”. I imagine a lot of the incidents in the book were real but names and places were changed to protect the innocent. While in the trenches opposite the Germans he finds time to note the seasons and the varied animal life in the trenches. His descriptions of the French countryside, swaths of which are being ripped to shreds, are memorable and occasionally poetic: "Thus with almost spectral appearance, the lurching brown figures flitted past with slung rifles and heads bent forward under basin helmets. Over the course of the novel Sherston will begin to question the whole point of the war in which so many have lost their lives, and his desire to stand up against the war is balanced by his fear of what his fellow officers and his friends back home will think. You can understand why he was revered by his soldiers. At the training depot he met David Thomas, with whom he fell in love. This book is a piece of literature, so, if you are interested in "easy" reads, with lots of dialogue and not much description, this one may not be the one for you. Nor is it to denigrate his considerable facility with the English language. size, about 160 characters. He describes beautiful landscapes and nature which continue to inspire despite the constant threat of death. Sherston's Progress (The Memoirs of George Sherston #3), Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man (The Memoirs of George Sherston #1), Memoirs of an Infantry Officer (The Memoirs of George Sherston #2). Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2014. He ends up questioning his service in the war. this book. If the contents of the If we decide not to incorporate your report, we will usually Four stars. His Anglican mother and Jewish father separated when he was five. Certainly read this AFTER _...Fox Hunting Man_ to truly appreciate the change wrought by WWI on both society and those in it.