Undertones of War (Penguin Modern Classics)

Over many decades this book has been described as ‘difficult’ to read. The reasons vary and initially, I too had difficulty with sudden and apparently random changes in sentence structure (hence tempo) and violent changes of imagery.It was when I realised that such passages were encountered principally in Blunden’s recollections of set-piece battles that I started to understand what he was trying to do and how effectively he had, in fact, done it. He has used the techniques of poets and composers to unsettle and sow confusion in his readers’ minds, which gets them to think about and sense (as far as that is possible) not just the sequence of events in any given attack (again as far as Blunden could see them), but also the feelings of ordinary soldiers and subalterns caught up in such Western Front battles – fear and confusion being predominant. Thus sudden shocks, random images, (within a sentence a blade of grass here, a piece of shrapnel there), an overwhelming sense of not being in control of one’s fate, are all reflected not just in words but in the structure of Blunden’s prose.A different technique is used when a completely unexpected disaster befalls his subjects. A quiet passage describing what seems to be safe dug-out domesticity continues on its way even after a shell kills a number of the occupants. No punctuation or change of rhythm heralds the arrival of the shell, no crescendo or heightening of tension, just the fact. One has to go back to the beginning of the sentence to make sure one has truly understood what has just happened, and the shock is all the greater when one realises one has. Casual reference is made to a horse that is spotted behind German lines by British artillery which then kills it, menace being lent to the pointless cruelty by the smooth flow of the prose.The writing is not perfect; elegiac passages, chiefly relating to the French countryside and his love of ancient books and churches are sometimes marred by highly obscure literary or historical references, which the editors have correctly surmised require a glossary at the front of the book. On such occasions one gets the sense that Blunden is more concerned with conveying the depth of his scholarship than enhancing his narrative – but such diversions are rare.And should not divert one from the conclusion that this is a memorable piece of prose/poetry, the like of which I have not come across before, save possible in Yeates’ semi-autobiographical ‘Winged Victory’. I think it is interesting that both books were written around twelve years after the Armistice, hence with time for reflection, and both by officers who actually fought in the war so they knew what they were writing about.The effect is profoundly moving.

A fantastic book that brings you right to the front line with both a great historical view and a wonderfully beautiful literary take on the way war was.

Due to the poetic language and the general writing style, I found this book very difficult to read, although the insights it gives on a soldier’s time at the front are well worth the effort.This is not a book for a newcomer to the First World War - I was glad that I had already read a few other books on the First World War so that I already had an understanding of it - but thankfully the chapters are short (around ten pages each) which makes it a bit easier to get through.From chapter 4 onwards things get better.The story picks up and the writing is easier to understand. A great account of a terrible war.This edition contains a useful glossary that explains some of the key terms used in the book and the main text of the book is followed by 32 First World War poems written by Edward Blunden.

Having read Carrington, Junger, and now Blunden, my view of infantry in WW1 has been changed. I hadn't realised artillery shells were raining down so often and how far behind the front line. Also, in these days of street lights and light pollution, it's difficult to imagine what it must have been like in no-mans land at night. I'm afraid I found Blunden rather hard to read, and I had to re-read some sentences several times. He uses very long sentences, and goes off onto side tracks half way through them. Sometimes he lost me. It wasn't always clear what his clever verbiage was referring to.

One of the top three Great War memoirs (the others being Graves' and Sassoon's), very readable and utterly absorbing. Also quite dreamy and reflective in a way. Well worth reading, and this edition is a good looking one.

This book is brillian I found it very warming as I am a huge fan hen it comes to gaining extra knowledge! It is a brilliant book to be able to say that I have read!!

This is a must-read book if you want to learn more about the Battles of the Somme and Ypres. Blunden uses his poetical skills to involve his reader in trench warfare during World War One.

Studied for Degree. Very well written by a man who saw the ravages of war but found release in seeing the landscape and beauty of friends and nature.