Vera brittain, british novelist and memoirist literary. Testament of youth vera brittain and her remarkable life. Published in 1933, testament of youth by vera brittain is a memoir of the authors young life. Of importance in its historical aspect, it is also a spiritual record of impelling power. She wrote testament of youth as a cry of outrage and agony, so that the futility of their deaths would. It is no accident that vera brittain began writing testament of youth, her peerless memoir of a womans losses in world. Jun 30, 2005 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. Oct 29, 2015 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. Nel 1933 vera brittain pubblica testament of youth. The reader will sense her bitterness towards the stifling expectations of her time, especially the traditions of her parents and their generation. Now recognized as one of the most iconic memoirs of the twentieth century, the work tells of the experiences she endured during world war i. Film tie in virago modern classics by brittain, vera isbn. Between these two books comes testament of friendship published in 1940, which is essentially a memoir of brittain s close.
Dealing with the war period, it is unlike any other story of those years. Her daughter is shirley vivian teresa brittain williams, baroness williams of crosby. Testament of youth brittain, vera 9781780226590 amazon. Brittain, vera, williams, shirley, bostridge, mark. Testament of youth by vera brittaindiana athill first read vera brittain s wartime memoir when it was published in 1933 and found the author tiresomely selfimportant and melodramatic. An autobiographical story of the war generation of england moving, beautiful, and tragic. Testament of youth is a 2014 british drama film based on the first world war memoir of the same name written by vera brittain. A passionate record of a lost generation, it made vera brittain one of the bestloved writers of her time. An autobiographical study of the years 19001925 virago classic nonfiction by vera brittain january 1, 2004 paperback 4. I havent read it yet, but im certain it covers her experience in marriage and motherhood, as well as international affairs, including world war ii. Her bestselling 1933 memoir testament of youth recounted her experiences during the first world war and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism.
Testament of youth movie tiein by vera brittain and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Testament of youth by vera brittain 1933 literary ladies. In 1933, vera brittain s honest and compelling account of her young adult experiences during world war i appeared in the form of an autobiography titled testament of youth. Mar 23, 20 vera brittain and her brother edward, 1915. The film was directed by james kent and written by juliette towhidi. Four years later her life and the life of her whole generation had changed in a way that was unimaginable in the tranquil prewar era. Four years later her life had changed in a way that would have been unimaginable in the tranquil prewar era. In 1933, brittain published her memoir, testament of youth. In 1933, vera brittains honest and compelling account of her young adult experiences during world war i appeared in the form of an autobiography titled testament of youth.
Vera brittain wrote several volumes to document her life experiences, including one. This important work of british literature became an immediate sensation upon publication in both england and the united states. 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. The film stars alicia vikander as vera brittain, an independent young woman who abandoned her studies at somerville college, oxford, to become a war nurse. Such interest is set to expand even more in this centenary year of the wars outbreak. Testament of youth excerpts vancouver island university. Jul 25, 2016 kit harington, colin morgan, taron egerton interviews testament of youth full press conference duration. Veras fiancee, her brother, and her brothers friends who died are all prominently featured in the book. The publisher calls this a classic memoir of the first world war.
It covers her earlier life from 19001925, working as a. Testament of youth by vera brittain modern mrs darcy. After extremely enjoying testament of youth, by vera brittain, i was encouraged to read testament of friendship, also by the same author. Testament of youth study guide contains a biography of vera brittain, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The main characters of this non fiction, history story are. I appreciated the authors sincerity and dedication and this personal view of wwi history. Vera brittain and the first world war tells the remarkable story of the author behind testament of youth while charting the book s ascent to become one of the most loved memoirs of the first world war period. Testament of youth is a marvellous book and very famous too, so it hardly needs boosting from me. With a signed slip tipped in signed by vera brittain. Much of what we know and feel about the first world war we owe. Vera brittain, quote from testament of youth when i was a girl. Download read testament of youth 1933 by vera brittain in. It is a unique look at the war from the perspective of a woman who gave up her studies at oxford to serve as a nurse in france and malta.
The most important thing that the reader learns about world. An autobiographical study of the years 19001925 by vera brittain. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Brittain, a pacifist since her first world war experiences, prefaces the book with a fairy tale, in which. F or nearly a decade i have wanted, with a growing sense of urgency, to write something which would show what the whole war and postwar period roughly, from the years leading up to 1914 until about 1935 has meant to the men and women of my generation, the generation of. Over the next six years, testament of youth sold 120,000 copies. It is acclaimed as a canonical description of the impact of world.
Kit harington, colin morgan, taron egerton interviews testament of youth full press conference duration. Lengel notes that this was one of the most important pieces of literature to emerge from the war. Testament of youth by vera brittain is a book whose deep significance can hardly be overestimated. Letter from vera to roland, 1915, p127 testament of youth is a momentous historical text preserving for us the lucky generations what war really meant. However, more than eighty years after it was written, there are no doubt younger people who have never heard of it and older people who have it gathering dust on one their shelves a classic, admired, but not read. I imagined that life was individual, ones own affair. Testament of youth ebook by vera brittain 9780297859147. Hailed by the times literary supplement as a book that helped both form and define the mood of its time, it speaks to any generation that has been irrevocably changed by war. Testament of youth by vera brittain 9781780226590 booktopia. More information about this seller contact this seller 10.
Testament of youth, vera brittain s memoir of life, love, and loss during wwi first came to my attention because of masterpiece theater which serialized it at least 20 years ago. Nov 06, 2008 testament of youth, one of the most famous autobiographies of the first world war, is brittain s account of how she survived the period. Letter from vera to roland, 1915, p127testament of youth is a momentous historical text preserving for us the lucky generations what war really meant. In 1914 vera brittain was 20, and as war was declared she was preparing to study at oxford. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 688 pages and is available in paperback format. Testament of youth is the first instalment, covering 19001925, in the memoir of vera brittain 18931970. About vera brittain 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. Most poignantly it is the portrait of vera brittain s unrelenting and tragic psychological annihilation during and. 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.
Her father is of the opinion that it is a waste of time and energy to educate women, but vera is committed to attaining her education. The first edition of the novel was published in august 28th 1933, and was written by vera brittain. Testament of youth by vera brittain, first edition abebooks. In 2010, i read her memoir again and i may reread it a third time as i also experience these events through the fictional characters of downton abbey.
Testament of youth by vera brittain used very good. Brittain s memoir continues with testament of experience, published in 1957, and encompassing the years 19251950. 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. Testament of youth is the first book in the overall memoir of vera brittain, an english nurse, writer, and pacifist. Click download or read online button to get testament of youth by vera brittain epub book now. Download read testament of youth 1933 by vera brittain. Mark bostridge is a biographer and literary critic who lives in london. Testament of youth is a powerful comingofage story which tackles love, war, loss and remembrance. Between these two books comes testament of friendship published in. An autobiographical study of the years 19001925 by vera brittain in 1914 vera brittain was eighteen and, as war was declared, she was preparing to study at oxford. Testament of youth, one of the most famous autobiographies of the first world war, is brittain s account of how she survived the period. Testament of youth by vera brittain gets free book. Testament of youth is a memoir written by vera brittain, first published in 1933, and deals with the authors life during world war i.
Vera brittain lost her fiance, brother and two closest male friends in the first world war. Testament of youth is a powerful coming of age story which tackles love, war, loss and remembrance. The third book testament of experience covers 19251950. Testament of youth summary this is vera brittain s account of her childhood in buxton, england. With the outbreak of the second world war, brittain s. Vera s fiancee, her brother, and her brothers friends who died are all prominently featured in the book. Vera brittains classic, 80 years on vera brittain lost her fiance, brother and two closest male friends in the first world war. An autobiographical study of the years 19001925 english edition ebook. She wrote testament of youth as a cry of outrage and. Most poignantly it is the portrait of vera brittains unrelenting and tragic psychological annihilation during and after world war one. Brittains memoir continues with testament of experience, published in 1957, and encompassing the years 19251950. Testament of youth by vera brittain,mark bostridge book resume. It establishes a link between pacifism and feminism in an engaging style. Testament of youth by vera brittain, shirley williams.
I think we will remember vera brittain, because above all else, she was the chronicler of her age. When war broke out in august 1914, 21yearold vera brittain was planning on enrolling at somerville college, oxford. This classic memoir of the first world war is now a major motion picture starring alicia vikander and kit harington. Read testament of youth an autobiographical study of the years 19001925 by vera brittain available from rakuten kobo. Yet, in the end who shall we remember one hundred years from now. Ms brittain s writing reveals her intelligence, intensity, and large vocabulary, and i was glad i read the book on kindle so i could easily look up words new to me. The story of vera brittain and her own lost generation stands as proxy for us all, whose. Details possible spoilers this story is wellwritten, though at times slightly wordy. The first part of a trilogy, it covers the years 19001925, from brittains early schoolage childhood through her late thirties, in the context of great britain and the anticipation and wake of world war i. Vera brittains memoir is as much heartfelt plea for pacifism and feminism as passionate indictment of war and misogyny.
Brittain has a deeply emotional writing style, which i like, and she does not disappoint in this fairly long biography about her intimate relationship with winifred holtby. Its based on the beloved ww1 memoir by vera brittain, which was a bestseller on publication, heralded as the voice of a generation and has become the classic testimony of that war, from a womans point of view. She wrote twentynine books, of which testament of youth is the bestknown. May 27, 2014 testament of youth is a marvellous book and very famous too, so it hardly needs boosting from me.
Vera brittain and the first world war tells the remarkable story of the author behind testament of youth while charting the books ascent to become one of the most loved memoirs of the first world war period. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Testament of youth project gutenberg selfpublishing. Vera brittain, quote from testament of youth it seems delightfully incongruous, he wrote from armentieres, that there should be good shops and fine buildings and comfortable beds less than half an hours walk from the trenches.
Free download or read online testament of youth pdf epub book. Testament of youth is a 1933 autobiographical memoir by vera brittain. Testament of youth is vera brittains memoir of her years just prior to, during, and shortly after world war i. Testament of youth by vera brittain world of books. A first edition, first printing published by gollancz in 1933. Testament of youth is both a record of what she lived through and an elegy for a vanished generation. Book overview in 1914 vera brittain was eighteen and, as war was declared, she was preparing to study at oxford. Testament of youth is brittain s account of how she survived those agonising.
Throughout testament of youth she has a tendency to namedrop, as if seeking acknowledgement for hobnobbing amongst the important literary and political figures of her day. Vera mary brittain 29 december 1893 29 march 1970 was an english voluntary aid detachment vad nurse, writer, feminist, socialist, and pacifist. Testament of youth by vera brittain epub download ebook pdf. Pdf testament of youth book by vera brittain free download. Testament of youth is brittain s account of how she survived those.
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