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circularcubes's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic supplement to Brittain's memoir. This gives you a better idea of what it was like living day-to-day during the first two or so years of the war. Poor girl, the waiting and waiting and waiting to hear back from loved ones on the Front, with letters arriving days after being sent out, was clearly unbearably agonizing. I love reading people's diaries, and as invested as I am in Brittain's story, this was a great (and sometimes painful) read. I'm looking forward to reading the full text of the letters soon.
One comment: Brittain and Leighton come across as being completely unaware of their class, and as a reader it's easy to forget how privileged they were, but some times it comes across in bits and pieces. In one of Leighton's letters to Brittain, he compares members of the lower classes to plant life. Really.
"He liked the Sonnets, & the nearness of two graves, a private's & a Major's, made the ones on 'The Dead' seem more real. 'I cannot help thinking of the two together & of the greater value of the one. What a pity it is that the same little piece of lead takes away as easily a brilliant life & one that is merely vegetation. The democracy of war!'" (201-202)
One comment: Brittain and Leighton come across as being completely unaware of their class, and as a reader it's easy to forget how privileged they were, but some times it comes across in bits and pieces. In one of Leighton's letters to Brittain, he compares members of the lower classes to plant life. Really.
"He liked the Sonnets, & the nearness of two graves, a private's & a Major's, made the ones on 'The Dead' seem more real. 'I cannot help thinking of the two together & of the greater value of the one. What a pity it is that the same little piece of lead takes away as easily a brilliant life & one that is merely vegetation. The democracy of war!'" (201-202)
emilypfarrow's review
Read part of it to use as a primary source in an essay, was not necessary to read entire book
jeanetterenee's review
4.0
3.5 stars
Testament of Youth was a bit better than this one, but Testament is considerably longer and more detailed. So if you want something more accessible and less time-consuming, this one might work well for you.
Testament of Youth was a bit better than this one, but Testament is considerably longer and more detailed. So if you want something more accessible and less time-consuming, this one might work well for you.
sar_p's review
3.0
3.5 rated down. Having read _Testament of Youth_ this was a bit redundant to me. However, it was interesting to read the day-to-day reality of an Edwardian, middle-class, young woman struggling to find a feminist identity. Even though the constant "Beloved" language when discussing Roland reminded me a teenager's diary, I was still nervous as I got closer to December 1915 knowing what was to come. I guess, unbeknownst to me, I got more sucked in the diary than I thought it would. I'm not sure this is a necessary read for anyone who has already read _Testament_, but the difference in her tone can be interesting to read.
chaydgc's review
3.0
Very affecting. I think I would have fallen in love with this book had I read it first as a teenager.
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