In Defence of the Realm
The Poetry of World Wars I & II; A Critical Study
Published on 29. July 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
608 pages
978-1-917673-00-6 (ISBN)
Description
'In Defence of the Realm: The Poetry of World Wars I & II; A Critical
Study', is the first book to examine both wars' poetry in one volume, to
the advantage of both. Set against their literary and historical backgrounds
many lesser-known but excellent poets are critically assessed next to the
'known greats' (e.g. Owen & Sassoon, Douglas &Keyes) to show the range
and quality of writing across the services and eras. Comprehensive, challenging
and well-researched, this is a book for lovers of history, poetry and the
esoteric; and for students from A-level to post-graduate level.
Study', is the first book to examine both wars' poetry in one volume, to
the advantage of both. Set against their literary and historical backgrounds
many lesser-known but excellent poets are critically assessed next to the
'known greats' (e.g. Owen & Sassoon, Douglas &Keyes) to show the range
and quality of writing across the services and eras. Comprehensive, challenging
and well-researched, this is a book for lovers of history, poetry and the
esoteric; and for students from A-level to post-graduate level.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Canterbury
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 131 mm
Width: 197 mm
Thickness: 50 mm
Weight
524 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-917673-00-6 (9781917673006)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Dr. Richard Ormrod is a semi-retired academic who has taught
for the Open University and continues to teach Creative Writing to adults under
the auspices of Rye Arts Festival, to which he has also given a number of
public lectures. He is a published biographer, journalist, reviewer and poet;
and now also a literary critic. His first volume of sole-authored poetry
appeared in 2025, with a second volume scheduled to appear soon.
for the Open University and continues to teach Creative Writing to adults under
the auspices of Rye Arts Festival, to which he has also given a number of
public lectures. He is a published biographer, journalist, reviewer and poet;
and now also a literary critic. His first volume of sole-authored poetry
appeared in 2025, with a second volume scheduled to appear soon.
Content
Contents
Dedicated 3
General Introduction. 6
World War 1: Introduction. 12
Chapter 1: 16
Established Writers and Non-Combatants. 16
Chapter 2: 49
"Into cleanness leaping...": 49
Early Patriotism. 49
Chapter 3: 60
Trench Warfare: The Realities. 60
Chapter 4: 87
All Abram's Sons. 87
Chapter 5: 103
Armistice and After. 103
World War II. 118
World War II: Introduction. 119
Chapter 6 121
Established Writers and Non-Combatants. 121
Chapter 7 152
The War in the Air. 152
Chapter 8 217
The War at Sea. 217
Chapter 9 262
The Italian Campaign & Other Fronts. 262
Chapter 10 315
El Alamein; North & East Africa Campaigns. 315
Chapter 11: 376
POWs. 376
Chapter 12 401
The War at Home: 401
Civil Defence, Home Guard, the BBC. 401
Chapter 13 447
Army and Naval Intelligence. 447
Chapter 14 478
Changes in Attitude/Imagery/Prosody Between the Poets
of the Two World Wars. 478
Chapter 15 502
David Jones, In Parenthesis 502
("a shape in words"). 502
Chapter 16 560
Retrospective Perspectives: Larkin, Owen Shears, Ted Hughes,
Ciaran Carson, etc. 560
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 575
Index 579
Dedicated 3
General Introduction. 6
World War 1: Introduction. 12
Chapter 1: 16
Established Writers and Non-Combatants. 16
Chapter 2: 49
"Into cleanness leaping...": 49
Early Patriotism. 49
Chapter 3: 60
Trench Warfare: The Realities. 60
Chapter 4: 87
All Abram's Sons. 87
Chapter 5: 103
Armistice and After. 103
World War II. 118
World War II: Introduction. 119
Chapter 6 121
Established Writers and Non-Combatants. 121
Chapter 7 152
The War in the Air. 152
Chapter 8 217
The War at Sea. 217
Chapter 9 262
The Italian Campaign & Other Fronts. 262
Chapter 10 315
El Alamein; North & East Africa Campaigns. 315
Chapter 11: 376
POWs. 376
Chapter 12 401
The War at Home: 401
Civil Defence, Home Guard, the BBC. 401
Chapter 13 447
Army and Naval Intelligence. 447
Chapter 14 478
Changes in Attitude/Imagery/Prosody Between the Poets
of the Two World Wars. 478
Chapter 15 502
David Jones, In Parenthesis 502
("a shape in words"). 502
Chapter 16 560
Retrospective Perspectives: Larkin, Owen Shears, Ted Hughes,
Ciaran Carson, etc. 560
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 575
Index 579