{"id":220,"date":"2024-06-26T13:51:46","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T13:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/english\/?p=220"},"modified":"2024-06-26T13:51:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T13:51:46","slug":"henry-russell-slaves-of-the-war-lords-1928","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/english\/henry-russell-slaves-of-the-war-lords-1928\/","title":{"rendered":"Henry Russell, Slaves of the War Lords (1928)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Henry Russell\u2019s Slaves of the War Lords<\/em><\/a>, first published by Hutchinson on 1 February 1928, is a vivid and realistic account of the experiences of an ordinary soldier on the front line. He served during the First World War in the 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, joining in September 1916.<\/p>\n

Russell begins by feeling optimistic and excited, looking down on soldiers who have been there longer, while recognizing the dehumanizing nature of warfare, and calling them \u2018Dirty beasts\u2019 (p. 18). However, the realities of the war quickly turn his tone from optimistic to realistic, following what was already a characteristic narrative of disillusionment.<\/p>\n

Russell also vividly describes the British offensive of the Battle of Messines Ridge on 7 June 1917, which was won by placing mines under the German lines: \u2018There was a huge tearing crash, the trench shook as if by an earthquake, and over the length of the front from Hill 60 to Messines appeared a scene like so many volcanoes in eruption. Simultaneously, from the rear came the dreadful roar of a thousand cannon, and the rattle of countless machine-guns. The battle had begun. It was bewildering. The volume of sound made men sweat in an agony of fear.\u2019 (p. 148)<\/p>\n

Much of the value of the book lies in vivid descriptions such as these, and the account of a regular soldier\u2019s experience.\u00a0 Russell remained with the Worcestershires until he was wounded on 21 March 1918, the first day of the German spring offensive, after which he returned to England. A brief account of his service is posted on a site dedicated to the regiment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Russell did not oppose the war but was critical of those leading it, a not uncommon view among soldiers epitomized by Siegfried Sassoon\u2019s famous protest. He was especially critical of the two military raids he was involved in which he argued resulted in them gaining no military advantage, despite officials at the time saying otherwise (p. 97).<\/p>\n

Typically for a man of his generation, Russell offers some thoughts and opinions, while resisting more colourful commentary.\u00a0 This is perhaps due to the book\u2019s early appearance in the War Books Boom: major works such as Journey\u2019s End<\/em> and All Quiet on the Western Front<\/em> are yet to appear, and the horizon of expectations has not yet shifted sufficiently to allow a more thoroughgoing critique.<\/p>\n

Henry Russell\u2019s Slaves of the War Lords<\/em> was reprinted by the Naval & Military Press<\/a> in 2001, but is once again out of print.<\/p>\n

Ray Thomson (edited by Andrew Frayn)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Henry Russell\u2019s Slaves of the War Lords, first published by Hutchinson on 1 February 1928, is a vivid and realistic account of the experiences of an ordinary soldier on the front line. He served during the First World War in the 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, joining in September 1916. Russell begins by feeling optimistic and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"yoast_head":"\nHenry Russell, Slaves of the War Lords (1928) - English at Edinburgh Napier University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/english\/henry-russell-slaves-of-the-war-lords-1928\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Henry Russell, Slaves of the War Lords (1928) - English at Edinburgh Napier University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Henry Russell\u2019s Slaves of the War Lords, first published by Hutchinson on 1 February 1928, is a vivid and realistic account of the experiences of an ordinary soldier on the front line. 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