Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West

Have just finished reading Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West.

I chose the book because it is a cultural product of the (aftermath of) the First World War, which is one of my interests (although I have far too many interests and need to cull them to a realistic level).

The First World War created the modern world. It decided who we are culturally, where we are in terms of social progress, and why we are “us” and not some other option. In terms of “modern” history, the First World War can explain everything (if we could only understand “everything”).

Written in 1918, the novel is very powerful. Rebecca West had amazing powers of description and brings to life the “proud tower” of Edwardian England (using “Edwardian” to mean 1890 to 1915) with an immediacy that I didn’t expect. One of the most worthwhile books I have read.



Above: I wish people wouldn’t buy me books. This huge tome has an intimidating presence on my reading table (I pick it up, look at the Contents, put it down again, I pick it up, look at the Index, put it down again, I pick it up, leaf through hoping a paragraph will catch my interest, then I put it down again disappointed…). As it was a gift I will have to at least skim-read it so I know enough to be able to discuss it.

Roy Hattersley was on last night’s Newsnight in a studio discussion. He seems to personify “yah-boo” politics. He seemed to be saying that the economic recession is solely a result of rich businessmen being greedy (when in fact we ALL have been greedy and none more so than snouts-in-the-trough politicians).