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Notes Of A Camp Follower On The Western Front
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
232 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
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About the author
E.W. Hornung
379 books80 followersErnest William Hornung known as Willie, was an English author, most famous for writing the Raffles series of novels about a gentleman thief in late Victorian London.
In addition to his novels and short stories Hornung wrote some war verse, and a play based on the Raffles stories was produced successfully. He was much interested in cricket, and was "a man of large and generous nature, a delightful companion and conversationalist".
In addition to his novels and short stories Hornung wrote some war verse, and a play based on the Raffles stories was produced successfully. He was much interested in cricket, and was "a man of large and generous nature, a delightful companion and conversationalist".
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 15, 2020
2.75 - 3 stars
Although I found the first part of this book somewhat dry and uneventful, about the middle of the book I became more interested when the author listed many books the soldiers were reading and, after that, I thought the writing seemed to take hold with a better sense of direction in conveying a glimpse of what life was like on the Western Front.
Quoted Book Synopsis from Elsewhere:
"In 1915 Oscar Hornung, son of the famous author E W Hornung, was killed at Ypres after less than a year as a soldier in Flanders. He was only 20. Two years later E.W. Hornung volunteered to help run one of the YMCA canteens close behind the front line.
This book is Hornung’s own account of the time he spent in Northern France: first helping in a canteen, then running a library for the enlisted men. He wanted to be near the place where his son died, to meet the young soldiers who were fighting the war, and to make their lives a little better. More than anything, Hornung wanted to believe there was a greater purpose to he war: in his descriptions soldiers are always heroes, the struggles just, and leaders wise and kind.
But whatever his motivations and blind-spots, Hornung brought all his skills as a highly experienced novelist to the task of telling his story. We feel we are there with him while he talks to the soldiers, travels to the front line to serve cocoa and biscuits under fire, and finally sets up a lending library only a couple of miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (a former friend who reported Hornung to the authorities for promoting pacifism) grudgingly admitted that this book contains some of the best descriptions of life on the Western Front."
Although I found the first part of this book somewhat dry and uneventful, about the middle of the book I became more interested when the author listed many books the soldiers were reading and, after that, I thought the writing seemed to take hold with a better sense of direction in conveying a glimpse of what life was like on the Western Front.
Quoted Book Synopsis from Elsewhere:
"In 1915 Oscar Hornung, son of the famous author E W Hornung, was killed at Ypres after less than a year as a soldier in Flanders. He was only 20. Two years later E.W. Hornung volunteered to help run one of the YMCA canteens close behind the front line.
This book is Hornung’s own account of the time he spent in Northern France: first helping in a canteen, then running a library for the enlisted men. He wanted to be near the place where his son died, to meet the young soldiers who were fighting the war, and to make their lives a little better. More than anything, Hornung wanted to believe there was a greater purpose to he war: in his descriptions soldiers are always heroes, the struggles just, and leaders wise and kind.
But whatever his motivations and blind-spots, Hornung brought all his skills as a highly experienced novelist to the task of telling his story. We feel we are there with him while he talks to the soldiers, travels to the front line to serve cocoa and biscuits under fire, and finally sets up a lending library only a couple of miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (a former friend who reported Hornung to the authorities for promoting pacifism) grudgingly admitted that this book contains some of the best descriptions of life on the Western Front."
December 17, 2017
A huge disappointment. Not a realistic portrait of the reality of war. Paints a picture of all the soldiers as the "very best of British manhood". They are all brave stoic men who proudly accept dying "in support of King and Country" as a privilege. He speaks only of how cheerful the soldiers are, both in the trenches, and at his YMCA rest area, where they enjoy books of poetry and classic literature. He glorifies the war even to extent of saying that those who return are the better for having been there. The war has made "real men" out of them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews