Vera mary brittain 29 december 1893 29 march 1970 was an english writer, feminist and pacifist, best remembered as. When vera brittains testament of youth was published in 1933 it struck a deep chord among those in england who felt, as she did, that their youth had been smashed up by the great war. Vera brittain 61 success facts everything you need to. Vera mary brittain brihtuhn is known principally for her moving account of her experiences as a nurse in world war i, testament of youth, and for her later pacifist and feminist writings. Independent task for vera brittains perhaps teaching. All the novels of the series were published by the pan macmillan publishing house between the years 1999 and 2014. During the interwar years, veras pacifism took the form of internationalism or, as she put it, piping for peace. With the outbreak of the second world war, brittains. Jun 14, 2014 written in 1919, this poem is dedicated to vera brittains fiance roland aubrey leighton 18951915, killed at age 20 by a sniper. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jul 17, 2014 first published in 1933 and reprinted over twenty times by virago since 1978, vera britt661page memoir is beautifully written, deeply affecting and searingly perceptive about politics, men and nations. Vera and winifred graduated together in 1921 and they moved to london where they hoped to establish themselves as writers. Most american readers are familiar with the novelists perhaps most famousor infamous, depending upon the speakerwork, lolita.
Read more browse all famous poems by vera brittain. A study of vijaya lakshmi pandit nd her contributions to modern india by brittain, vera and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Reprint of a book originally published in great britain in 1933. Brittains first published novel, the dark tide 1923, created scandal as it. Her bestselling 1933 memoir testament of youth recounted her experiences during the first world war and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism. That work has never been out of print since first published in 1933, and its influence has been strengthened. In spite of its tremulous eagerness of anticipation, the night again seemed short.
Paul berry was vera brittain s close friend for twentyeight years and her literary executor. Mar 23, 20 vera brittain and her brother edward, 1915. Newcastle under lyme, england the daughter of a wealthy paper manufacturer, brittain dropped out of somerville college at oxford to work as a nurses aide in malta and near the western front during world war i. An autobiographical story of the years 19001925, and phoenix. When it was finally published in august 1933, the book was an instant hit. The book also recounted her wartime experiences and her marriage to george cg catlin. Mar 15, 2012 it was perhaps inevitable in the wake of winifreds early death that vera should decide to write a biography of her. Vera brittain has 36 books on goodreads with 345 ratings.
Vera brittain was winifreds literary executor, and was determined to make sure south riding was published. Already i could count, perhaps even on my fingers, the hours that must pass before i should see him. With the outbreak of the second world war, brittain s. Much of what we know and feel about the first world war we owe to vera brittains elegiac yet unsparing book, which set a standard for memoirists from martha gellhorn to lillian hellman. The astonishing poem, perhaps by vera brittain is engaging and intuitive to the reader. The reputation of vera mary brittain, named a fellow of the royal society of literature. Vera brittain 1914 was born in staffordshire in december 1893. Typescript of poem published in poems of the war and after 1934 versions also published in verses of. In 1933, vera published her most important and lasting book, testament of youth, a memoir of her war experience, and a literary memorial to her brother, fiance, and their friends. Veras book, published in 1933, after many false starts as she strove to get the tone exactly as she wanted, was a conscious act of keeping the memory of. Vera brittain lost her fiance, brother and two closest male friends in the first world. In 1915 vera brittain abandoned her studies at oxford to enlist as a nurse in the armed forces, serving in london, in malta, and at the western front in france.
Vera brittain 61 success facts everything you need to know. Vera is a key contributor to the literary legacy of world war i. Veras first two novels, the dark tide 1923 and not without honour 1925 sold badly and were ignored by the critics. Vera brittains most popular book is testament of youth. Her most notable works in this genre are verses of a vad and testament of youth. Perhaps this is a consequence of the knowledge that the potential of being killed. She was awarded an exhibition to somerville college, oxford, to study english literature in 1914. Vera brittain, feminist, poet and novelist, was born in newcastle on 29 december 1893, and was raised in macclesfield and buxton. As the film of testament of youth hits cinema screens, the daughter of its author, vera brittain, talks about growing up in the shadow of the ghosts of the first world war. It was perhaps inevitable in the wake of winifreds early death that vera should decide to write a biography of her. The vera brittain collection first world war poetry. Analysis of perhaps by vera brittain 933 words bartleby. Certainly the stage seemed perfectly set for his leave. In the midst of her studies at oxford when war broke out across europe, vera brittain left.
By wars end she had lost virtually everyone she loved. Englands hour by vera brittain and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. See all books authored by vera brittain, including testament of youth. Just as the first world war was breaking out, she won an exhibition to somerville to read english. Paul berry was vera brittains close friend for twentyeight years and her literary executor. Vera mary brittain 29 december 1893 29 march 1970 was an english voluntary aid detachment vad nurse, writer, feminist, socialist, and pacifist. The book was a bestseller on both sides of the atlantic, and in the autumn of 1934 vera embarked on. It helped, perhaps, that both brittain and her husband were such. However, winifred had more success with anderby wold 1923 and the crowded. In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about vera brittain s early life, career and personal life right away. At the end of her first year she decided that her duty lay in serving her country and she spent the remainder of the war years nursing in london, malta and france. Books by vera brittain author of testament of youth.
The story of the friendship between winifred holtby and. The vera brittain collection first world war poetry digital archive. Vera brittain author of testament of youth goodreads. The story of the friendship between winifred holtby and vera. First published in 1933 and reprinted over twenty times by virago since 1978, vera britt661page memoir is beautifully written, deeply affecting and searingly perceptive about politics, men and nations.
Vera mary brittain was a british writer and pacifist, best remembered as the author of the bestselling 1933 memoir testament of youth, recounting her experiences during world war i and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism. The journalism of vera brittain and winifred holtby. Monicas school and somerville college, oxford, she left to serve as a voluntary aid detachment nurse vad during the war, being posted to france and malta. The vera brittain collection first world war poetry digital.
Vladimir nabokovs recently published letters to his wife. Vera brittain lost her fiance, brother and two closest male friends in the first world war. Testament of youth by vera brittain published in 1933. Vera brittain 18931970 served as a nurse in the british armed forces in world war i and afterward devoted herself to the causes of peace and feminism. Abandoning her studies at oxford in 1915 to enlist as a nurse in the armed services, brittain served in london, in malta, and on the western front. Perhaps even more important than that is the sheer, searing emotion in the book. Perhaps vera brittain to what extent do you agree with the view that the poem perhaps is the most significant of the poems we have read so far. Mark bostridge is a biographer and literary critic who lives in london. Such interest is set to expand even more in this centenary year of the wars outbreak.
Perhaps, pain and sorrow should spare you from breaking a so noble heart. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office at 26 red lion square london wc1r 4hq. Vera brittain s most popular book is testament of youth. Mark bostridge was educated at westminster school and oxford university, where he won the gladstone memorial prize. After the publication of this ambitious book brittain found herself deeply. Reading testament of youth by vera brittain in college changed my views on war and my focus as a historian. Vera mary brittain was born 29th december 1893 in newcastleunderlyme, staffordshire, the elder of two. Vera brittain was a convinced pacifist, a prolific speaker, lecturer, journalist and writer, she devoted much of her energy to the causes of peace and feminism.
I was so impressed by vera brittains experiences that i gave the book to my activist brother not once, but twice. Over the next six years, testament of youth sold 120,000 copies. You hear again and again how the reader is reduced to tears by her incalculable losses. In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about vera brittains early.
Vera brittain was born in december 1893 in newcastleunderlyme, staffordshire, as daughter of a paper manufacturer. Written as an account of the experiences of young men and women at the onset and during the first world war, it gives a particular insight which is different from, but equally absorbing as, those accounts, so often understated, of soldiers who fought in the trenches during the conflict. Veras book, published in 1933, after many false starts as she strove to get the tone exactly as she wanted, was a. Vera brittain books list of books by author vera brittain. The edited collection contains correspondence from the writer over the. Her daughter is shirley vivian teresa brittain williams, baroness williams of crosby, who is a british politician and academic who represents the liberal democrats. The book was a bestseller on both sides of the atlantic, and in the autumn of 1934 vera embarked on a successful lecturetour of the united states. The poem perhaps is written by vera britain, who was an english writer, feminist and pacifist but she is best remembered as the author of the best selling memoir testament of. Here you will find the most uptodate 61 success facts, information, and much more. Perhaps the golden meadows at my feet will make the sunny hours of spring seem gay, and i shall find the white mayblossoms sweet, though you have passed away. Testament of friendship, her memorial to winifred holtby, was published in 1940, and testament of experience, a followup to her earlier autobiography, was issued in 1957, covering the years 192550. Born in 1893 into a prosperous, papermill owning family, vera brittain had a sheltered, uppermiddle.
Brittain is an exceptional writer and this shows all throughout the poem with her use of punctuation, imagery, allegory, and many other literary aspects. Perhaps some day the sun will shine againand i shall see that still the skies are blueand feel once more i do not live in vain. Testament of youth by vera brittain thinking faith. The major obstacle she faced was the indomitable figure of holtbys mother, alice, the first woman alderman of the east riding. Immediately download the vera brittain summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for. Vera mary brittain 29 december 1893 29 march 1970 was an english voluntary aid. Vera mary brittain was a british writer and pacifist, best remembered as the. Vera brittain and the first world war tells the remarkable story of the author behind testament of youth whilst charting the books ascent to become one of the most loved memoirs of the first world war period. This book by vera brittain is one of the most moving that i have read. Vera brittain biography short bio vera brittain 18931970 vera brittain was an english writer, feminist and pacifist, who wrote the best selling testament of youth an account of her traumatic experiences during the first world war. English writer and world war i pacifist by guest contributor carol devlin. Jul 16, 2009 vera brittain was a convinced pacifist, a prolific speaker, lecturer, journalist and writer, she devoted much of her energy to the causes of peace and feminism. The vera stanhope series is a novel series consisting of six interesting novels based on the crime fiction and mystery genres. She wrote twentynine books, of which testament of youth is the bestknown.
Perhaps some day the sun will shine again, and i shall see that still the skies are blue, and feel once more i do not live in vain, although bereft of you. Vera mary brittain 29 december 1893 29 march 1970 was an english writer, feminist and pacifist, best remembered as the author of the bestselling 1933 memoir testamen. The series was written by the award winning novelist from herefordshire, united kingdom, ann cleeves. She began a relationship with her brothers school friend, roland leighton, also due to start at oxford in michaelmas 1914. Testament of youth excerpts vancouver island university. She wrote 29 books in all, novels, poetry, biography and autobiography, but it was testament of youth which established her reputation and made her one of the bestloved writers of her. In 1933, vera published her most important and lasting book, testament of youth, a memoir of her war. This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. The reputation of vera mary brittain, named a fellow of the royal society of literature in 1946, centers on her achievements as an influential british feminist and pacifist and on her famous memoir of world war i, testament of youth. This book is your ultimate resource for vera brittain.