Review by Booklist Review
During World War I, the syndrome of shell shock was recognized, and now designations of post-traumatic stress syndrome are common. But the systematic examination of the effects upon the psyche of the survivors of modern warfare is still a relatively new practice. Barrett, professor at the University of London, has investigated the lives of five men three soldiers and two physicians who endured prolonged trauma during the Great War. The result is an engrossing and often heartbreaking illustration of the fragility of one's emotional stability under the stress of savage conflict. For instance,Willis Brown served in the Dardanelles campaign and apparently succumbed to hysterical amnesia when he was trapped in a trench with Turkish corpses. Douglas Darling, a Canadian, strove mightily to conquer his nerves while serving on the western front, but his mental and physical health declined after his demobilization, and he died just six years later. Barrett's examination of these men is hardly representative of the millions who served, but her study is nevertheless a devastating reminder of the unseen but lasting wounds of war.--Freeman, Jay Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Here are the experiences of five British veterans who survived World War I physically but came home damaged goods. It is the psychic impact of the horrific war that Barrett (English, Univ. of London; Imagination in Theory) examines through the experiences of Willis Brown, Douglas Darling, Ronald Skirth, William Tyrrell, and Lawrence Gameson. Each was the victim of shell shock or what is now known as posttraumatic stress disorder. Yet Barrett reveals that these succinct mental classifications do not do justice to what these men experienced. It was the cumulative effect of death as a constant companion that changed these veterans forever. They all returned home to apparently normal lives but beneath the surface there was illness, alcoholism, bitterness, and depression. Through interviews with the soldiers' descendants and a careful reading of archival material buried in the Imperial War Museum, Barrett evokes the bloody crucible these five men passed through. She may be criticized for not offering more in-depth documentation of the archival resources used, but no one will question the authenticity of her compelling characterizations of these five veterans of the Great War. Sadly, this is a timely work. A worthy addition to the extensive literature on the mental health of combat veterans; recommended for all libraries.--Jim Doyle, Rome, GA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Library Journal Review
