The Great War and Modern Memory

work by Fussell

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July 19, 2026

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The Great War and Modern Memory (1975) by Paul Fussell is a significant work that examines the impact of World War I on modern consciousness. Fussell utilized a vast amount of material from literate armies of the era, focusing on the experiences of soldiers in the trenches.1

The book explores how the realities of modern warfare, characterized by scientific advancements and brutal attrition, contrasted sharply with pre-war perceptions and propaganda. Fussell's work highlights the profound literary output generated by soldiers during this conflict, which provided a new voice of protest and a means to represent the dislocation caused by the war. This literary response offered a stark counterpoint to the initial nationalist euphoria and shaped how the war was remembered and understood in subsequent generations.21

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historiography
Military history
In The Great War and Modern Memory (1975), Paul Fussell made full use of these documents to produce an account of life in the trenches. Although the literary output of soldiers in World War II was much less significant, the American writer Studs Terkel, using techniques…
Read More
In The Great War and Modern Memory (1975), Paul Fussell made full use of these documents to produce an account of life in the trenches. Although the literary output of soldiers in World War II was much less significant, the American writer Studs Terkel, using techniques…
Read More