"The Great War and Modern Memory" (book)

"The Great War and Modern Memory," by Paul Fussell, is an analytical book that explores how World War I profoundly shaped literature, culture, and collective memory. Fussell examines the war’s disillusionment, emphasizing its impact on writing, poetry, and public perceptions. He discusses how war experience influenced modernist writers like Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, shaping themes of trauma and futility. The book highlights the contrast between the patriotic rhetoric before the war and the brutal reality that followed, illustrating how the war’s legacy persists in shaping modern attitudes towards conflict, memory, and national identity.