First World War films/books/documentaries?

[Pinkappleblossom]

Just learning so much more about this era at the moment, and wondered what people’s best recommendations were?

I’ve read Testament of Youth, A Long Long Way and Charlotte Sometimes (a children’s book). Any other good recommendations?

Books - All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, the Regeneration trilogy by Pat Barker, Private Peaceful / War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (children’s books, both also made into films), Voices of Danger by Alick Rowe. Films - Journey’s End, My Boy Jack. I’m sure there are lots of others I’ve forgotten but that’s a start!

Wow that is so helpful! All quiet on the western front is something I’ve heard of and never read.

Would especially love some film/doc recommendations especially about domestic life. I feel like there’s so much WW2 stuff like wartime farm which I LOVED.

The Skylarks War. I forget who wrote it, it's a YA story.

Oh interesting i have a feeling I have a Second World War book by the same author if they have another title called our castle by the sea. I haven’t read that one though, just bought it for dc.

Ooh no, totally different author!

Have you read any WW1 poetry eg Wilfred Owen? Some of it is fantastic.

I feel like I did at school, but weirdly I did a literature degree and feel like we never touched this.

Rilla of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery

Hmm. I’m not sure about the more domestic side. There was a series a few years ago called The Village with John Simm in it which was set before, during and after the war and there was quite a bit in one of the Downton Abbey series too. Not based domestically but there was a Peter Jackson film called They Shall Not Grow Old which was really good where they used original footage which was restored and colourised and featured interviews with soldiers who fought in the war.

poetry Sigfreid Sassoon and Wilfred Owens and definitely all quiet on the western front

Wow I had not thought of rilla of ingleside and I LOVE lm Montgomery, especially the Blue Castle and Emily of New Moon.

Radio 4 did a daily 15 minute drama called Home Front tracking daily (fictional) lives from 2014-18. It’s all still available on BBC Sounds. I enjoyed it, and it is very informative.

Ftantz (film) is fab, is homelife from the German perspective and is available on BBC Iplayer / on demand at the moment. It looks a little dull initially because its black and white but switches to colour as it picks up.

*frantz

@Pinkappleblossom

Wow I had not thought of rilla of ingleside and I LOVE lm Montgomery, especially the Blue Castle and Emily of New Moon.

Yep, me too! You've read it then?

Some excellent suggestions above, especially the poetry. I’d add Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks.

What sort of WWI books are you after? Books like Michael Morpurgo (fiction) or proper WWI reading material? If the latter, read anything by Peter Hart, very readable and not heavy reading. If you have a special area of interest (eg: the Somme, Gallipoli, the RFC etc) he deals with different subjects in different books Peter has also done tv work, you may find it on Youtube. He has lots of free podcasts available too - look for Peter Hart military history. If you can find any video clips by Taff Gillingham they’re exceedingly good, he also runs the Great War Huts, but not written any books. A very respected gentleman.

There are lots of authors covering a very wide range of areas, some very heavy on statistics etc. Some not so much. If you have a special interest and want pointers for books I’d be happy to suggest.

Paths of Glory. Stanley Kubrick film about the French in WW1

@Pedallleur

Paths of Glory. Stanley Kubrick film about the French in WW1

Oh yes, definitely. One of the few films rated by historians.

The Peter Jackson film is awesome in the true sense of the word. Bringing the Western front to life and showing how much the soldiers were ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances. Sebastian Faulks Birdsong. Radio 4 drama Homefront and Radio 4 drama Tommies.

The film of All Quiet On The Western Front is very good too.

Definitely read A Testament of Youth and the Regeneration Trilogy and Birdsong.

I'd recommend the film 1917.

Siegfried Sassoon Complete Memoirs of George Sherston. Also lots of history about Craighouse in Edinburgh where Sassoon was in hospital.

Craiglockhart, not Craighouse.

Autobiographies:
The Last Fighting Tommy about Harry Patch, an ordinary soldier who lived so long that he became extraordinary iyswim.

Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves, written in the 30s by very successful author and poet about his experiences in the officer class.