Geoffrey Thurlow

There is nothing like an actual historical record of correspondence to transport the reader from their comfortable chair into the emotion, pain and sadness of the First World War. This collection of letters is tragic as it traces the relationship between Vera Brittain, a VAD in England, Malta and later France, and her fiance, her brother and two other friends. One by one, the boys are killed and the silence left in their wake is palpable in the collection. There is no escaping the tragedy, as the words on the page are the actual words of the key players. I found myself in tears halfway through the book, despite knowing what was coming (the story is well known due to Vera Brittain's other writings). Just because you could anticipate the loss, didn't lessen the tragedy.

I would be hard pressed to find a more poignant account of the First World War than this.… (mehr)

3764. Letters from a Lost Generation The First World War Letters of Vera Brittain and Four Friends: Roland Leighton, Edward Brittain, Victor Richardson, Geoffrey Thurlow, edited by Alan Bishop and Mark Bostridge (read June 26 2003) As one who was so tremendously impressed by Vera Brittain's Chronicle of Youth (read 14 July 1988) I could not fail to read this book, published in 1999, when I saw it. It is a compilation of letters written to and from the four men named, till each was killed in the War. I could not help but be impressed by how all wanted to be in France (though they knew it was hell on earth) since it was the honorable place to be. A sad book, not really enjoyable to read.… (mehr)