Weidenfeld and Nicholson £20.00
ISBN 978 0 297 85329 9
Hardback 276pp
I must own up to not being a fan of the work of Max Arthur; I rarely give away Great War books, but I made an exception with his Last Post.
Mr Arthur acts as a conduit bringing to the page the words of Veterans of the Great War and those who were civilians or served in other capacities. The book deals with the reactions to the ending of the conflict and the time that came afterwards. The book is divided into 7 chapters, each dealing with an aspect of the aftermath,
The Armistice and the way it was greeted both at home and on the battlefields are dealt with in chapters 1 and 2. The reactions range from relief to bitterness, often combined but many of the interviewees do not express joy at the ending of hostilities, only a profound weariness.
Most fascinating for me to read were the chapters which dealt with the rehabilitation of the wounded, many with grievous facial wounds, the treatment of amputees and the shell shocked. Many of the stories tell of men being badly treated and looking back from old age to the post war period many are bitter at the reception they received. Many are resigned and some are thankful. The struggle many men faced to find employment and support their families and the awarding of war pensions are described in one chapter and often makes grim reading.
The women who were left behind or those who forged new lives as a result of the war get a voice as well, some tell sad tales of widowhood and struggle but other women were truly emancipated by their experiences.
I am sure that this latest book by Max Arthur will become well read and a best seller, it is to be commended for bringing to light a largely unknown and unrecorded aspect of the study of the Great War.
Reviewer: Michelle Young
