Siegfried Sassoon's WWI diaries published online

[theHandpuppet]

BBC News
31 July 2014
Siegfried Sassoon's war diaries published online

The diaries of war poet Siegfried Sassoon are being published online for the first time.

The archive of 23 journals and two notebooks of poetry has been digitised by the Cambridge University Library, which bought the collection in 2009.

Until now only Sassoon's official biographer - Max Egremont - has had access to the complete 4,100-page archive due to its fragile state.

Librarian Anne Jarvis said the war diaries were of "towering importance"....

Much MORE at http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-28581726

[petronius]

1. I've been thinking of this poem a lot recently:

At the Cenotaph

I saw the Prince of Darkness, with his Staff,
Standing bare-headed by the Cenotaph:
Unostentatious and respectful, there
He stood, and offered up the following prayer.
“Make them forget, O Lord, what this Memorial
Means; their discredited ideas revive;
Breed new belief that War is purgatorial
Proof of the pride and power of being alive;
Men’s biologic urge to readjust
The Map of Europe, Lord of Hosts, increase;
Lift up their hearts in large destructive lust;
And crown their heads with blind vindictive Peace.”
The Prince of Darkness to the Cenotaph
Bowed. As he walked away I heard him laugh.

[Byronic]

2. Some of which are still encrusted with the mud of the trenches.

Siegfried Sassoon was a great man. He fought valiantly in the war (with almost insane bravery) and was admired by his men, and then fought against the war, with great dignity.

He convinced the great war poet Wilfred Owen to actually start writing about the war, mentored him, and urged him not to return to France - even claiming that he would 'stab Owen in the leg' to stop him going.

Siegfried 'Mad Jack' Sassoon was a giant.

[thucythucy]

3. One of my heroes as well. nt

[thucythucy]

4. Thanks for this link. nt

[Abu Pepe]

5. Suicide in the Trenches was always the one that gave me chills

Some musical adaptations:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10352184