Remembering
I write this on the eve of Remembrance Sunday/Armistice Day 2018 when all thoughts turn to remembering those who sacrificed so much.
This is where the war poetry of Sassoon and Owen amongst others hits home. This is where historical writing - fiction AND non-fiction, can truly show what life would have been like in the trenches (and make us devoutly thankful we'll never face anything like that).
The testimonies and local history records should be treasured. Reading others' experiences and thoughts should encourage empathy in us (and I think is one of the truly great things about fiction generally).
There are so many stories - someone local to me has found out the stories of those on our War Memorial. Imagine that happening up and down the UK. Every single person recalled and their story told.
Fiction is wonderful and should reflect the human condition but the sheer brutal facts of non-fiction around things like the World Wars should never be forgotten. We owe a huge debt to those who wrote things down so we have those written records. We dare not forget (else be destined to re-live) and writers play a crucial role here.
This is where the war poetry of Sassoon and Owen amongst others hits home. This is where historical writing - fiction AND non-fiction, can truly show what life would have been like in the trenches (and make us devoutly thankful we'll never face anything like that).
The testimonies and local history records should be treasured. Reading others' experiences and thoughts should encourage empathy in us (and I think is one of the truly great things about fiction generally).
There are so many stories - someone local to me has found out the stories of those on our War Memorial. Imagine that happening up and down the UK. Every single person recalled and their story told.
Fiction is wonderful and should reflect the human condition but the sheer brutal facts of non-fiction around things like the World Wars should never be forgotten. We owe a huge debt to those who wrote things down so we have those written records. We dare not forget (else be destined to re-live) and writers play a crucial role here.
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