Book Club Meeting October 1, 2014

Our discussion of “The Great War and Modern Memory” centered on an enthusiastic response as to how much we all learned about World War I. The senseless war and the horrors experienced by those in the trenches, the censorship of letters home and the unwillingness of those on the front to discuss their experiences, and the destruction of the heroic view of battle evidenced in 19th century poetry and language were a few of the ideas we discussed. We all agreed that we might have better enjoyed a book that dealt either with history or literature, not both. Despite that, Fussell's scope and knowledge impressed us all. The conversation led to our noting the role of the European colonial empires and the subsequent reshaping of nations of the modern world after WWI. We realized through our discussions that the subsequent wars of the twentieth and twenty first centuries have only increased the irony implicit in this conflict being named “The War to End All Wars”.


Our next book is a mystery “Behold a Pale Horse” by Peter Tremayne. This is the most recent book in the Sister Fidelma mystery series, which is set in medieval Ireland. Peter Tremayne is the pseudonym for Peter Ellis, noted scholar of Celtic history and culture. Thanks to Jane Gerard for the suggestion. The December meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 1 at 1:30 in Richardson Library, Room 115. Join us for a brown bag lunch at 1 if you would like. Please contact Kathryn DeGraff or Helen Marlborough if you have any questions.