A fresh perspective on the history of the post-war period, and the
plight of a traumatized nation.
We know that millions of soldiers were scarred by their experiences in
the First World War trenches, but what happened after they returned
home? Suzie Grogan reveals the First World War's disturbing legacy for
soldiers and their families, exploring the myth of a nation of 'broken
men' and 'spare women'.
In 1922, the British Parliament published a report into the situation of
thousands of mentally ill ex-soldiers still in hospital. Suzie Grogan
has examined what happened to these men, what sort of treatments were on
offer to them, and what reception did they receive from their families
and society?
Drawing on a variety of original sources, Suzie Grogan combines personal
stories with a wider narrative of the war to show the true extent of the
trauma experienced by the survivors. She also uncovers fascinating
neglected areas, like the surge in spiritualism and the effects of the
Zeppelin raids on the Home Front.