The Telegraph book of Readers' Letters from the Great War

by Gavin Fuller (Editor)

An anthology of letters from writers to the Telegraph covering the lead up to and the duration of the entire First World War. For the millions at home watching the horrors of the First World War unfold, there were few means by which they could express their anxiety, show their pride for the Tommies on the front, or vent their frustration at the way the war was being fought. So, many did what the British do best - they wrote letters and, in so doing, tried to understand the events over which they had no control. And many of these were addressed to the Editor of the Letters pages at the Daily Telegraph , through whom they came to have a voice. Collected together for the first time, from the lead up to war through to the declaration of peace, in 1918, are the voices of a slice of Britain whose stories tell of a war viewed from relative safety, but scarred by tragedy, guilt and grief. Together these letters reveal a new portrait of a nation at war - one penned by readers of the Daily Telegraph themselves. As they dealt with the anguish and fear for loved ones while `doing their bit' far from the front line, they came together in the Letters Pages and tried to come to terms with a war that would alter the courses of their lives forever.

Genres: War

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2014

Reviews

[Paula Sealey · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a thoroughly entertaining book! I picked it up on a whim in Waterstones, and am so pleased I did.

The book is a collation of letters sent to The Telegraph newspaper during the First World War and provides a fascinating insight into the minds of citizens during these turbulent times. The subject matters covered are varied, some made me smile, some mad me sad, and others provoked me to do a little more research on the given subject matter or letter sender. A really good book for gaining a little extra historical knowledge.

[Melinda Crews Kirkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good, but not what I was looking for. I was actually looking for letters from soldiers and this was not that kind of book. This was more like an order list of needed supplies and civilian letters. That's the reason for the three stars.

[KylieAtkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A complication of letters sent to the British Telegraph from the lead up to WWI through to the declaration off peace. This is a snapshot of the voice of those trying to 'do their bit' while the world rages on.

It's interesting to see how formal all the letters were and, although they had plenty to whinge about at the time, there were more letters about helping people - food drives, clothes collection, fundraisers, concerts. There are also plenty of letters about shirkers, conscription, reserves keeping their fitness levels up and should football still be played while our boys are away fighting for their country.

I have had this book beside my bed for most of the year and I just read it between other books or a letter or two before bed. It's a reminder that we should be grateful we are not back in those dreadful times and I hope we never will be.