This authoritative reference work examines literary and artistic responses to the war’s upheavals across a wide range of media and genres, from poetry to pamphlets, sculpture to television documentary, and requiems to war reporting.

Rather than looking at particular forms of artistic expression in isolation and focusing only on the war and inter-war period, the 26 essays collected in this volume approach artistic responses to the war from a wide variety of angles and, where appropriate, pursue their inquiry into the present day.

In 6 sections, covering Literature, the Visual Arts, Music, Periodicals and Journalism, Film and Broadcasting, and Publishing and Material Culture, a wide range of original chapters from experts across literature and the arts examine what means and approaches were employed to respond to the shock of war as well as asking such key questions as how and why literary and artistic responses to the war have changed over time, and how far later works of art are responses not only to the war itself, but to earlier cultural production.

Reviews mentioning the chapter The Evolution of First World War Computer Games: 

“A number of chapters provide a welcome departure from canonical forms. Chris Kempshall’s insightful chapter on First World War-themed computer games makes a plea for scholars and teachers to become more engaged with gaming.

Game developers are interested in producing work that is ‘factually and historically sound’, and Kempshall envisages a role for historians that augments the developers’ use of ‘historical websites, Osprey military books and re-enactment literature as popular sources’ (428).

Furthermore, games reach a wide and diverse audience, much wider than the reach of specialized academic and military book titles or documentaries, and, given their potential to immerse users in the active world of decision-making, can enhance students’ study of the war.” (Marguerite Helmers Women: A Cultural Review Vol.29 (2018))

Chapter: The Evolution of First World War Computer Games