First World War Poems by Sir Andrew Motion

Motion has said that he wanted to create an anthology that would “show the war in all its breadth and depth”, and he has certainly succeeded. The poems in this collection cover a wide range of subjects, from the horrors of trench warfare to the impact of the war on civilians. They are also written in a variety of styles, from the traditional war poetry of Owen and Sassoon to the more experimental work of some of the other poets.

One of the strengths of this anthology is its inclusion of work by poets from a variety of backgrounds. As well as the well-known British poets, there are also poems from American, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand poets. This gives the reader a sense of the global impact of the war.

Another strength of the anthology is its inclusion of poems that are both familiar and unfamiliar. Motion has chosen some of the most well-known war poems, such as Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum est” and Sassoon’s “Dreamers of Empire”, but he has also included some lesser-known gems. This makes the anthology a valuable resource for both students of war poetry and general readers.

Overall, First World War Poems is a moving and thought-provoking anthology that provides a powerful insight into the experience of World War I. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the impact of this war on the lives of those who lived through it.