Books/films on World War One

[Rocketeer]

I really enjoyed The Great War and Modern Memory by Paul Fussell. Some history, some discussion of how it changed our culture, lots of discussion of war poets and poetry.

[spifflog]

I'm certain this is NOT what you are looking for, but "Johnny Got His Gun," both the book by Dalton Trumbo and the movie from the early 1970's is amazing, and should at least be mentioned here.

It's more of a political anti-war work, but it is about WWI

[Slithy Tove]

Fussell was really rough on e e cummings' "The Enormous Room," thinking it pretentiously naif. Given the terror and bullshit Fussell himself faced as a young man in war, that may be a valid complaint. But many young people do go through horrible experiences with mostly wide-eyed wonderment. Because they are young and stupid.

[Wincerind]

All of Lyn Macdonalds books give excellent first hand accounts of WW I battles. Very moving at times.

[Hogfather65]

Some movies about WW1 I have and they are good ones

DeathWatch
Beneath Hill 60
Passchendaele
The Lost Battalion
Company K

Full list on IMDB
Great WWI movies

As for books

Forgotten Voices Of The Great War

[Duke]

According to who you talk to, The Pity of War by Niall Ferguson is either a dull and terribly misguided screed which wrongly claims that WWI was entirely England's fault, or a much-needed challenge to traditional historiographic orthodoxy regarding the Great War. I know Professor Ferguson too well to take sides.

[Imago]

Aie, now that's something I'll definitely have to read.

[Shodan]

Goodbye to All That, by Robert Graves. Makes you want to laugh out loud while you are vomiting.

Regards,
Shodan

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Imago

Aie, now that's something I'll definitely have to read.

Everything bad in the world since Cromwell has been England's fault, according to my Irish dad. He's dead now, and that was probably England's fault too.

[Nonsuch]

Originally Posted by RandMcnally

A World Undone is a very good general history of the first world war.

Seconded. An excellent book for someone new (if that is the word) to the war, as I was when I read it. I've since read Barbara Tuchman's book — also excellent, though as noted it only covers the first 30 days or so.

[lisiate]

Originally Posted by Imago

Seen Passchendaele a long time ago. Definitely checking the rest out. Currently waiting for Birds Without Wings to ship in.

Just a bump to see what you thought of it. I just reread it and realised the actual war part is relatively minor, still a good book though.

[Imago]

Well I reread the Regeneration series and a couple of the other books mentioned here first, so I'm only about ten pages in. I should probably get off the Dope and go read more!

[Jim's Son]

"The Illusion of Victory: America in World War I" by Thomas Fleming
"1918: No Man's Land" by John Toland

"Upstairs, Downstairs" was one of the greatest TV series ever and was at it's best when the two families of 165 Eaton Place (as Hazel once described them) dealt with the World War. The sight of Lady Prudence Fairfax dressed as a German soldier to raise money for the war effort "Richard would want us to just ask for money. But people only give if they can see their friends dress up and make fools of themselves on stage" is not to be missed.

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles tries to have Indy serve in every known front of the war and can be a bit cartoony. But I treasure the scene when in the Belgian Army, he tries to explain the war's origin to his Belgian comrades "We are fighting the Germans in France because a Serbian terrorist killed an Austrian arch duke??? Really???".

[An Gadaí]

Originally Posted by Maserschmidt

I'll strongly second or third A Very Long Engagement and Regeneration if it's fiction yer wantin'. If it's non-fiction, The Guns of August does a good job of covering the first months of the war.

I found the film of Regeneration a pretty good watch too.

[Imago]

Originally Posted by An Gadaí

I found the film of Regeneration a pretty good watch too.

There's a film? Oh my. This I've got to see. What year?

[An Gadaí]

Originally Posted by Imago

There's a film? Oh my. This I've got to see. What year?

Regeneration is a 1997 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Pat Barker. The film is directed by Gillies MacKinnon. It was released as Behind the Lines in the USA in 1998.

I recall Jonathan Pryce and Jonny Lee Miller's performances as being excellent although I haven't seen it since it came out.