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Lest we Forget, World war Stories
In this collection of short stories, Inez Bigwood and John Gilbert Thompson bring to life the experiences of soldiers and civilians during World War I. From the front lines to the home front, these stories capture the bravery, sacrifice, and heartbreak of that era. This book is a moving tribute to those who served and a reminder of the cost of war. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
362 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2008
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February 23, 2022
Published in 1918.
This is one of those books about World War I (The Great War) that, as I was looking for another title, I came across and said to myself, “Whoa, Nellie! This looks interesting.”
And so, I picked it up and read it.
Lest We Forget World War Stories is a collection of mostly analysis and opinions of events during The Great War. Sometimes the tone comes across high-hatted to me, sometimes just matter-of-fact with little sway in any direction.
The author spends a great deal of time placing blame on Nicholas II. For example,
We see that they also push the idea that Nicholas II “was very much under the influence of his wife” and she was under the influence of “Rasputin, the Black Monk.”
What was most striking to me is the anti-German attitude throughout, almost to the point of pounding, pounding, pounding. Looking at the causes of The Great War a little over a century later adds more light upon the causes – therefore, what is asserted in this book has not had the luxury of time and deeper analysis. The authors suggest that this book “ may be used as a reading book or as an historical reader for the upper grammar grades.” I agree, with the caveat that it is ideal for deconstruction in both history and English classes.
Further on, we read that the author has a definite slant against anything German:
And we read that
The author submits that the German government follows the idea that “once a German, always a German,” and that once the German emigres settled in the United States and became American citizens, they were still expected to support and fight for Germany, but “events have proved that most German-Americans have higher ideals of right.” Though there are no concrete examples of that in this particular essay, I tend to agree, for to paint every microcosm of society, no matter how one divides it or categorizes it, in an unyielding manner is too unbelievable. There are always exceptions.
What I am understanding is that these essays beat down the Kaiser and the German government to no end, and by golly, it is all the fault of Germany for The Great War.
It is, in fact, more complex than that.
A fact that I learned some things about these two war poets:
Alan Seeger is the uncle of folk singer Pete Seeger.
Generally, Lest We Forget World War Stories is a good resource to discover a little more about the thoughts of The Great War contemporaries. I enjoyed it, even with its emotional heavy-handedness on placing blame left and right. Again, the passage of more than a century usually reveals more facts and information. This work may also be a useful resource as we watch the current international events in 2022.
🟣Kindle version.
This is one of those books about World War I (The Great War) that, as I was looking for another title, I came across and said to myself, “Whoa, Nellie! This looks interesting.”
And so, I picked it up and read it.
Lest We Forget World War Stories is a collection of mostly analysis and opinions of events during The Great War. Sometimes the tone comes across high-hatted to me, sometimes just matter-of-fact with little sway in any direction.
The author spends a great deal of time placing blame on Nicholas II. For example,
As the Tsar grew older he drew away from touch with the people, and lived in his palaces, leaving affairs of state to his ministers who were chosen from a small and selfish clique. They brought on the war with Japan, and its failure was due to them. When Russia was defeated, the people were on the brink of a revolution; but the Tsar promised them a constitution, and trouble was put off for a while. When the people were quiet again, he broke his word and did not give them a constitution. Instead, in every way possible, he lessened the power and freedom of the people, and took revenge upon those who had caused the trouble by having them arrested and exiled, or executed.
We see that they also push the idea that Nicholas II “was very much under the influence of his wife” and she was under the influence of “Rasputin, the Black Monk.”
What was most striking to me is the anti-German attitude throughout, almost to the point of pounding, pounding, pounding. Looking at the causes of The Great War a little over a century later adds more light upon the causes – therefore, what is asserted in this book has not had the luxury of time and deeper analysis. The authors suggest that this book “ may be used as a reading book or as an historical reader for the upper grammar grades.” I agree, with the caveat that it is ideal for deconstruction in both history and English classes.
Further on, we read that the author has a definite slant against anything German:
“The rulers of Germany have for years forbidden anything taught in their schools which did not praise Germany and make the children believe their Emperor to be a god. . . .The pupils are taught in history, geography, and even in reading, only those facts about other countries which show how much inferior they are to Germany. . .. So the pupils have never learned the true and the interesting things about other countries.
And we read that
A German boy is trained into a soldier, hard-hearted and deceitful. The pupils in school are made to spy on one another, and the teachers, too, spy on one another. An American boy was expelled from a German gymnasium in Berlin, because he refused to "tattle-tale" on the pupils in his class. . . .The Germans have not been taught to respect the rights of others,—no one apparently has any personal rights.
The author submits that the German government follows the idea that “once a German, always a German,” and that once the German emigres settled in the United States and became American citizens, they were still expected to support and fight for Germany, but “events have proved that most German-Americans have higher ideals of right.” Though there are no concrete examples of that in this particular essay, I tend to agree, for to paint every microcosm of society, no matter how one divides it or categorizes it, in an unyielding manner is too unbelievable. There are always exceptions.
What I am understanding is that these essays beat down the Kaiser and the German government to no end, and by golly, it is all the fault of Germany for The Great War.
It is, in fact, more complex than that.
A fact that I learned some things about these two war poets:
“Rupert Brooke enlisted in the English navy, and Alan Seeger enlisted in the French army as one of the Foreign Legion. . . . [and] . . . Alan Seeger has written two poems that all Americans should know. One is entitled "Ode in Memory of the American Volunteers Fallen for France." Another is, “I Have a Rendezvous with Death.”
Alan Seeger is the uncle of folk singer Pete Seeger.
Generally, Lest We Forget World War Stories is a good resource to discover a little more about the thoughts of The Great War contemporaries. I enjoyed it, even with its emotional heavy-handedness on placing blame left and right. Again, the passage of more than a century usually reveals more facts and information. This work may also be a useful resource as we watch the current international events in 2022.
🟣Kindle version.
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