The Murder of Lidice

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Poem for the Writers' War Board.

Genres: Poetry

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

About the author

Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American lyrical poet and playwright. She received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923, the third woman to win the award for poetry, and was also known for her feminist activism and her many love affairs. She used the pseudonym Nancy Boyd for her prose work.

This famous portrait of Vincent (as she was called by friends) was taken by Carl Van Vechten in 1933.

Reviews

[anna near]

im not rating a 32 page book, but jesus christ that was so sad and so beautiful.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I burrow into my TBR box of books and discover serendipitous treasures. I always love the unplanned adventure.

Today was one of those days. How fitting is it to finish one book about WWII and Czechoslovakia only to pick up an epic poem from the chest about the same topic. (Also how helpful since I likely won’t remember how to spell Czechoslovakia tomorrow.)

That said - the poem is horrifically sad. I've read that critics classify it as propaganda during the 1940’s effort to urge the United States into the war. Perhaps, but regardless it was a hideous thing to wipe out a village. Completely erasing the place from the map; that's beyond awful. I say it is good that this piece was written to bring the atrocities of war to our remembrance.

[David Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

In June of 1942, the Czech town of Lidice became a target of Nazi atrocity. All the men were murdered; the women and children sent to concentrations camps or forced into "Germanisation"; the buildings burnt and razed.

Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem addressing the horror was written as part of the Writers' War Board's efforts to persude the US public to back and support the war effort during WWII. While Millay herself did refer to some of her propaganda verse of the '40s as "acres of bad poetry" - and there are plenty of easy rhymes, cheap repetition, light verses, and other trite poetics here - perhaps some of this can be forgiven to a degree knowing that the intention and purpose of this piece was to be accessible to the public. How useful is subtlety in persuasion or propaganda anyway? Despite these shortcomings, there are still several strong and effectively poignant passages. The attention to individuals maintains their humanity. The heaviness of the times hangs like clouds seeded with lead.

"The Murder of Ludice" is piece with historic relevance. I was unfamiliar with the massacre at Lidice, so this was a worthwhile read for me. If nothing else, it's fitting memorial to the people of Lidice.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful piece of war-time propaganda by a Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet, THE MURDER OF LIDICE tells of the eradication of a Bohemian village and its inhabitants in revenge for the assassination of Rupert Heydrich, the Nazi governor of Czechoslovakia.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible poem of courage and sacrifice. I am of Bohemian heritage and I visited the memorial with my Mom and brothers in 2017. I only discovered this poem in the last few days and KNEW I wanted a copy. One of the most powerful poems I have ever read!

[Tamtamoc3233 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. In 1942 Hitler destroyed a town called Lidice in Czechoslovakia. It was retaliation for his “ right arm “ being assassinated in Prague. The Butcher of Prague Heinrich Heydrich, was one of the authors of The Final Solution; the process of extermination of the Jews of Europe. The assassins were traced back to the town of Lidice.

One of the saddest events of WWII. 😭

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. I don't think I've ever read a book of poetry that was such blatant propaganda! I mean, this book is pure anti-Hitler propaganda in perfect formal verse!? As much as I want to like it, I'm just plain confused.