
- 200 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Apollinaire in the Great War (1914-18)
About this book
A major literary figure in pre-war Paris, Guillaume Apollinaire volunteered for war in 1914, trained as an artilleryman and was posted in April 1915 to the Champagne front in northern France, participating in the bloody but little-known offensive that September and then moving into the front line as an infantry officer, before being wounded in March 1916 and invalided out of active service. Back in Paris, Apollinaire plunged back into the activities of the capital's artistic avant-garde, meanwhile publishing poetry, prose and plays that were deeply influenced by his involvement in the conflict. He died on 9 November 1918, two days before the Armistice, a victim of the influenza pandemic, but with a literary reputation secured, as well as a certain fame for coining the term 'Surrealism'. This book draws heavily on Apollinaire's writings to tell the story of his war years, within the wider context of the French experience of the Great War. In this period, Apollinaire also wrote hundreds of letters, the bulk of them to two women: Louise de Coligny, a flighty socialite of aristocratic origin, and Madeleine Pagès, a young schoolteacher. In these letters he poured out his passionate feelings for both in often highly erotic poetry and prose, as well as giving detailed descriptions of his life as a front-line soldier.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Front Cover
- About the Author and About this Book
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Prelude: Paris, 1914
- Postlude: Paris, November 1918
- 1: Deauville, Paris, Nice, August–december 1914
- 2: Nîmes, December 1914–april 1915 (Soldiering)
- 3: Nîmes, December 1914–april 1915 (Lou)
- 4: Champagne, April–june 1915
- 5: Champagne, July–november 1915
- 6: Champagne, November 1915–march 1916
- 7: Paris, April 1916–november 1918
- Epilogue
- Notes
- ‘du Coton Dans Les Oreilles’
- Key Dates in the Life of Guillaume Apollinaire
- Further Reading and Bibliography
- Index
- Copyright
- Contacts Page
- Some Authors