Will be on November, but I am already ahead of the anniversary of end of World War I or Great War. Its 100 years already. And for those of us who are fond of these warlike periods of the past XNUMXth century, it is undoubtedly a significant date. There are infinite books, essays, biographies and other material published on this terrible episode of humanity that, unfortunately, had an almost more frightening continuation. This is my humble selection of 7 readings about that tragedy.
The beauty and pain of battle - Peter Englund
I have this book and that of Life and destiny by Vasili Grossman. They are just as forceful, heartbreaking, exciting, and poignant. And both are based on testimonials, diaries, letters and photos of a handful of people of different sex, nationality and roles who witnessed those barbarities.
East from the writer, historian, and scholar Swedish Peter Englund it is composed of brief brush strokes, chunks of emotions daily about 20 of them (gunners, engineers, doctors, nurses, drivers) throughout the Great War. There's also 60 photos and illustrations that accompany the texts divided into years and days. For me possibly one of the best books that I have read on the subject.
No news at the front - Eric Maria Remarque
This is a classic of the genre like the previous and better known without a doubt. Erich Maria Remarque is the pseudonym of the german writer Erich paul remark, who also participated in the conflict. Published in 1929, it was his portrait of him and his consequences from the point of view of a young german soldier 21 years in everyday life at the front.
Have been made two film versions. One in 1930, who won the Oscar for best film and best director for Lewis milestone. And another in 1979 for the television that he directed Delbert mann and what did the Globo de Oro in its category the following year.
Farewell to arms - Ernest Hemingway
It is possibly one of the most acclaimed works of Ernest Hemingway and was inspired by their experiences. For me it is certainly a classic of world literature. Perhaps she is better known for her versions in the cinema than for her reading. Even so, this love story between a nurse and a young soldier idealistic in the Italy of the First World War is unforgettable.
The American Lieutenant Frederic henryAn ambulance driver, he is carefree and partying, but everything changes when he meets catherine barkley, a beautiful British nurse. And at first the lieutenant wants nothing more than an uncomplicated flirtation until it turns into passion. But the war separates him and breaks everything. And when they both have to, Frederic will understand what really matters.
His versions to the cinema are that of 1932, a jewel of black and white cinema, with Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes as protagonists. Later in 1957, there was another one that they starred in Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones. I keep the first one.
Paths of Glory - Humphrey Cobb
Again the cinema and one of its geniuses as it was Stanley Kubrick created a masterpiece of this novel written by the American Humphrey Coob and published in 1935. Cobb was one of the first American volunteers to go to the Western Front. Participated in the battle of Amiens, where he was injured. And in the book you can find extracts from Cobb's own diary (he was 17 at the time) that he wrote on the front.
However as a literary work it went unnoticed. It was Kubrick who read it when he was very young and it was in 1957 when, supported by United Artists and the actor Kirk Douglas, could turn it into a unparalleled classic of war cinema.
Your message in both cases cannot be more antimilitarist and whistleblower of injustices and the absurdities committed in that conflict. Set in trench warfare, the story, which is based on real events, narrates the execution (an unjust punishment for the failure of a suicide attack against the Germans), for insubordination and cowardice, for four soldiers of the 181 Regiment of the front of the French Army.
World War I told to skeptics - Juan Eslava Galán
Eslava Galán is a more than authorized voice on historical issues. This is demonstrated by his various books on different war episodes of all time. In this work he tells us about what technological advances such as the machine gun, the tank or the submarine entailed, and about characters such as Mata Hari, the Red Baron or Rasputin.
His reading also includes the travel, hobbies of the troop, the manners of the brothels, and the games of spies, as well as other anonymous stories or of those who later became relevant names who lived that experience.
The fall of the giants - Ken Follet
Follet was dispatched in a big way in his Trilogy of the Century which begins with this title, perhaps the best of the three. Epic, love, tragedies, passions, hatred, betrayal and all the paraphernalia and display of characters which are the trademark of this immensely famous Welsh writer.
We know the five families different (North American, German, Russian, English and Welsh) of characters whose destinies we will follow throughout the world and throughout the century. In this first book, of course, it deals with the First World War, the Russian Revolution and the first struggles for women's rights. And all of them will get to know each other and mix in a setting that is worth discovering.
The red plane - Manfred von Richthofen
And finally I am left with one of the most famous and legendary protagonists of the First World War. Because it is impossible not to know Manfred von Richthofen, or the Red Baron for eternal myth already.
Richthofen and his call "Flying Circus" sailed and dominated the air aboard some of the most lethal combat aircraft of that time, the Albatros and Fokker. They painted them from bright colors to provoke the enemy. Richthofen was wounded by a bullet in his head in July 1917 and in his recovery he wrote the autobiographical chronicle what is this book. In it we find from training stories, air adventures and, also detailed descriptions of the mechanics of those planes. And of course testimonials like these:
At a hundred meters altitude, my adversary tried to fly in a zigzag to obstruct my target. Then my opportunity presented itself. I was harassing him up to fifty meters, shooting him incessantly. The Englishman was going to fall hopelessly. To achieve this I almost had to spend a whole magazine.
My enemy crashed to the edge of our lines with a shot to the head. His machine gun dug into the ground and today it decorates the entrance of my house.