The graphic novel Goddamn This War! and it's predecessor It Was The War of The Trenches by Jacques Tardi come highly recommended. The novels dramatize the stories of the French Poilu during the war, and the stories are often taken from well known photographs of the day, using them as their jumping off point. For those of you that may be put off by the perceived childish nature of a graphic novel, I urge you to reconsider. The artwork, while almost campy in style, is visceral and explicit. The stories often jump erratically from character to character, and most often end in heart wrenching irony. Like one of the back page reviewers states, the story is told without a trace of sentimentality. Nothing but unvarnished misery from the perspective of those that lived it (and died).
I read mostly non-fiction related to the history of the events. Having the true stories presented in a visual format such as this only ensures that what may have been an abstract recounting of details is now a very real and personal experience.
Five squadron leader's streamers out of five.
Lindsay
