Comments for Great War Fiction

Comment on War Centenary Wars by George Simmers

George Simmers — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:34:50 +0000

I have already posted my one and only (short and derivative) attempt at Great War fiction on this blog. Really, I have no talent for prose fiction, and there is no prospect whatever of my trying to write a novel of any kind. But if I did... There have been plenty of novels about junior officers, and quite a few about the ranks. What nobody has attempted, I think, since C. S. Forester's 1936 hatchet job The General is a war novel told from the perspective of a senior officer. One could show him coping with military failure, facing the uncomfortable responsibilities of command (like endorsing a death sentence), and dealing with power struggles at GCHQ. Meanwhile, back at home, his wife has fallen for a pacifist...

Comment on War Centenary Wars by janevsw

janevsw — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:34:32 +0000

Just as a matter of interest, George: if you were going to write a Great War novel, what would you write? I hope this doesn’t come over as an aggressive question, it’s not meant to: but (given that I myself am an (out-of-print) author – it would be intriguing to know what the informed reader wants…

Comment on The Spectator and the Wipers Times by Erica

Erica — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:59:59 +0000

George, this is wonderful news about the Spectator. I can see that I am going to be speading a lot of time using this archive!

Comment on Novelists Ngram by George Simmers

George Simmers — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:11:19 +0000

You’re right. But it’s quite useful for tracking the vagaries of intellectual fashion.

Comment on Novelists Ngram by Alan Allport

Alan Allport — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:33:31 +0000

Plot Michel Foucault against Dan Brown and you get some idea of the limitations of this method in tracking popularity.

Comment on Allan M. Laing and Bertrand Russell by Carole Jones

Carole Jones — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:16:51 +0000

I can offer no help with regard to certainty, but doing a check for the books you mention – first in local libraries then … on Amazon – I noticed that an Allan M. Laing published a book entitled ‘In Praise of Bernard Shaw: an Anthology for Old and Young’ in about 1949 (entries vary .. diff editions I guess). Don’t know if that helps. Cheers, Carole Jones.

Comment on The Time of the Armistice by Alan Allport

Alan Allport — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 14:57:10 +0000

IIRC there was some initial confusion at the beginning of the war about when precisely Britain should begin hostilities because the ultimatum to the German government on August 4 1914 didn’t specify whether the deadline for reply was 11pm London time or Berlin time. At the last minute they decided to go with London time.

Comment on The Time of the Armistice by George Simmers

George Simmers — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 06:32:29 +0000

Thanks, Sylvia. You're right. France was on GMT until 1940, when the German occupiers introduced CET. They did this for their own convenience, but it seems to have suited the French, since they did not go back to GMT after 1945. Looking idly for confirmation of the Armistice time in Berlin, I found this article in the Manchester Guardian archive, which casts no light on that little question, but gives a graphic picture of November 11th in Berlin. Click on it for a readable version:

Comment on The Time of the Armistice by Silvia Mergenthal

Silvia Mergenthal — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:47:38 +0000

I suspect this is actually true as France appears to have used GMT until 1940. By contrast, Germany used CET (Central European Time, GMT + 1), and I think also introduced it in the territories which it occupied in WWI, such as Belgium. Best, Silvia

Comment on Philip Gibbs and ‘Heirs Apparent’ by George Simmers

George Simmers — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:51:15 +0000

I remember my mother speaking of Philip Gibbs as ‘wonderful’ – I think on the strength of his wartime reputation. I don’t recall either of my parents actually reading his books.