What is it about?
There is a common notion that the First World War was mainly fought by young men. This idea has been spread through literature about the war. I explain that this is a myth using historical data regarding soldiers' ages. Then, I analyze key pieces of literature about the war that show the concept of a soldier's age is more complicated.
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Why is it important?
My findings expose that great numbers of older men fought in the First World War. Their experiences, too, need to be taken seriously. I also demonstrate that war has an effect on age and aging.
Perspectives
This article was inspired by an interdisciplinary workshop hosted at the University of Cincinnati and sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. It was a wonderful experience, and I am thrilled that I can bring this work forward to the public.
Amanda Brian
Coastal Carolina University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The First World War and the Myth of the Young Man's War in Western Europe, Literature & History, August 2018, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0306197318792348.
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