Reading the 20th Century discussion

Every month we discuss a book on a specific era or a theme. This book will be the winner of a group poll.


Our May 2019 theme is the 1910s

If you feel inspired, please nominate a book set in, or about, the 1910s (1910-1919) that you would like to read and discuss.

It can be either fiction or non-fiction.

Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.

If your nomination wins then please be willing to fully participate in the subsequent discussion.

Happy nominating.

Having listened to today's Backlisted Podcast (Mon 18th February 2019) I am inspired to nominate.....


Rebecca West's debut novel The Return of the Soldier, first published in 1918.

The Backlisted participants reckon it's her best novel. It's also very short at 112 pages, so easy to fit into our punishing reading schedules, and whilst ostensibly about a soldier returning from WW1 it's apparently much more focussed on the women in his life.

Here's the blurb....

Writing her first novel during World War I, West examines the relationship between three women and a soldier suffering from shell-shock. This novel of an enclosed world invaded by public events also embodies in its characters the shifts in England's class structures at the beginning of the twentieth century.

I nominate Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart.



A novel based on the forgotten true story of one of the nation’s first female deputy sheriffs.

Constance Kopp doesn’t quite fit the mold. She towers over most men, has no interest in marriage or domestic affairs, and has been isolated from the world since a family secret sent her and her sisters into hiding fifteen years ago. One day a belligerent and powerful silk factory owner runs down their buggy, and a dispute over damages turns into a war of bricks, bullets, and threats as he unleashes his gang on their family farm. When the sheriff enlists her help in convicting the men, Constance is forced to confront her past and defend her family — and she does it in a way that few women of 1914 would have dared.

Of course this time span encompasses the sinking of the Titanic, about which many books have been written.

The Return of the Soldier is superb! I read it just late last fall and it sits on my 5-star read shelf.

Thanks for your nomination Jamie


Yes indeed Jill, good point. It was a momentous decade.

There was also the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic which resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (three to five percent of the world's population)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "The Return of the Soldier is superb! I read it just late last fall and it sits on my 5-star read shelf."


Thanks Elizabeth - that's very encouraging news


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "The Return of the Soldier is superb! I read it just late last fall and it sits on my 5-star read shelf."

I see that even I gave it 4 stars and a relatively quick read for me - just over a month.

I also remember The Return of The Soldier being great, as was the film of it.

Today I finished The Bridge on the Drina which left me wanting to read West's Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey Through Yugoslavia but as I'm currently reading Ron Chernow's opus on J.D. Rockefeller, I won't be up for a 1100 page non-fiction read until next year.

Last week, I saw that a Goodreads friend gave The Return of the Soldier 5 stars, so I immediately decided that a book that's 10% of the length of BL & GF is a better choice for my first West read. This is a very timely nomination for me.

Looks like The Return of the Soldier is a popular choice - I've never read it and would be interested to do so. However, to throw another choice into the ring:

Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, 1917

'A gripping, vivid, deeply researched chronicle of the Russian Revolution told through the eyes of a surprising, flamboyant cast of foreigners in Petrograd, superbly narrated by Helen Rappaport.' Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The Romanovs

Between the first revolution in February 1917 and Lenin’s Bolshevik coup in October, Petrograd (the former St Petersburg) was in turmoil. Foreign visitors who filled hotels, bars and embassies were acutely aware of the chaos breaking out on their doorsteps. Among them were journalists, diplomats, businessmen, governesses and volunteer nurses. Many kept diaries and wrote letters home: from an English nurse who had already survived the sinking of the Titanic; to the black valet of the US Ambassador, far from his native Deep South; to suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, who had come to Petrograd to inspect the indomitable Women’s Death Battalion led by Maria Bochkareava.

Drawing upon a rich trove of material and through eye-witness accounts left by foreign nationals who saw the drama unfold, Helen Rappaport takes us right up to the action – to see, feel and hear the Revolution as it happened.

Thanks Susan - I've just read your review, it looks like another goodie


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart
Susan: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport

I'm dithering as I'd like to read Return of the Soldier again...

I had thought about nominating The Custom of the Country as we haven't journeyed much to C20th America, and this book is quite Jamesian in having a young American woman confronted by Europe - but will it split the vote?

One way to find out RC....

RC, that is another great read!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "RC, that is another great read!"

I also liked Custom of the Country.
Fellow Trollope/Wharton fan Julian Fellows, of Downton Abbey & Dr. Thorne fame, calls its heroine Undine Sprague, "an anti-heroine absolutely in the same rank as Becky Sharpe, Scarlett O'Hara or Lizzie Eustace."

Anyone else considering a nomination?


I've tentatively added Roman Clodia's possible nomination to the list but will not officially include it until it is confirmed (or not)


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart
Susan: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport
Roman Clodia: The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton * TBC *

Oh go on then, I'll nominate The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton - which, I am reliably informed by my fellow RTTC-ers, is a great read!

Hurrah


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart
Susan: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport
Roman Clodia: The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton


Who else is thinking of nominating?

I'll watch the voting with interest!

I'm thinking of nominating, but haven't decided yet.

Jan C wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "The Return of the Soldier is superb! I read it just late last fall and it sits on my 5-star read shelf."

I see that even I gave it 4 stars..."

I see that your average book rating is only 3.39 stars, so the "even I gave it 4 stars" statement is truly a compliment. If you were a college professor, I'd avoid your class if I wanted an easy A or B.

Luckily, I was never a professor, although my SIL is and she does not give out easy As.

I'm surprised my rating is that high.

I'm thinking of nominating but haven't looked at my books yet. I'll try to do that this afternoon/evening. (I just realized there is not much afternoon left at 4:30.)

Thanks all - looking forward to possible nominations from Jan and Judy. Let us know what you decide.

Brian wrote: "I'd avoid your class if I wanted an easy A or B. "

I would think an easy A or B would indicate not much learning happens.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Brian wrote: "I'd avoid your class if I wanted an easy A or B. "

I would think an easy A or B would indicate not much learning happens."

That probably depends on how ,many times they have taken the class. She has people who have taken the class 2-3 times.

Jan C wrote: "That probably depends on how ,many times they have taken the class. She has people who have taken the class 2-3 times. ."

My comment was about Brian apparently thinking an easy A or B is something to be desired. Also, you already said your SIL doesn't give out easy grades.

There have been some excellent nominations so far. Jan and Judy, I am interested to hear your suggestions. Jan, I often find that we tend to like the same books and I often find myself adding your suggestions to my TBR list :)

A while ago I picked up The Aviator of Tsingtao: My War in China and Escape from a British POW Camp by Gunther Plüschow for like 99 cents on Kindle. I've not read it yet.

In 1914 4000 Germans were outmanned and out gunned by the British-Japanese forces. On the surrender of Tsingtao the author flew to China and endeavored to escape to the other side of the world, being captured and put in a British POW camp with a subsequent escape. If Amazon is to be believed - the only POW in WWI to escape.

Looks interesting, Jan. Sadly, not on kindle in the UK, which is a shame.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Brian wrote: "I'd avoid your class if I wanted an easy A or B. "

I would think an easy A or B would indicate not much learning happens."

You're right but such classes were greatly desired by some of my college friends, especially pre-med and accounting majors who spent so much time in their Accounting or Organic Chemistry-type classes with tough grading and demanding teachers, that they desired humanities and social science electives to neither require much work nor reduce their grade-point. Knowledge was a secondary goal.

Susan wrote: "Looks interesting, Jan. Sadly, not on kindle in the UK, which is a shame."

I can look for something else that is available there.

How about Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally? something I have on Kindle but haven't read. Looks like it is about the negotiation for the truce to end the war, not the actual armistice. About the meeting in the train not about Paris. Only about 240 pp so it isn't too long.

I didn't want to put off your nomination, sorry, Jan. However, Gossip from the Forest, which does look fascinating, is more easily available on this side on the pond.

Just thinking about this period, there is so much to choose from, isn't there? 1910 - 1919 was certainly full of incident.

Thanks Jan for your two suggestions - I've put both Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally on the list and The Aviator of Tsingtao: My War in China and Escape from a British POW Camp by Gunther Plüschow with TBC by it. It's your choice. Please let us know what you finally decide


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart
Susan: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport
Roman Clodia: The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
Jan: Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally (TBC) or The Aviator of Tsingtao: My War in China and Escape from a British POW Camp by Gunther Plüschow (TBC)


Who else is thinking of nominating?

I'm still thinking Nigeyb - I had a couple of ideas but they are not easily available.

I will nominate Mr Britling Sees it Through by H.G. Wells.

It is the story of a family, set mainly during the war. It considers moral questions of why countries might go to war and compares those with individual values.
Maxim Gorky called the novel "the finest, most courageous, truthful, and humane book written in Europe in the course of this accursed war . . at a time of universal barbarism and cruelty, your book is an important and truly humane work."

Thanks Val - another mouth watering choice


Judy wrote: "I'm still thinking Nigeyb - I had a couple of ideas but they are not easily available."

Plenty of time Judy. I agree that books that are easily available are more attractive.


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart
Susan: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport
Roman Clodia: The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
Jan: Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally (TBC) or The Aviator of Tsingtao: My War in China and Escape from a British POW Camp by Gunther Plüschow (TBC)
Val: Mr Britling Sees it Through by H.G. Wells

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks Val - another mouth watering choice


Judy wrote: "I'm still thinking Nigeyb - I had a couple of ideas but they are not easily available."

Plenty of time Judy. I agree that books that are e..."

There's no sense in keeping the Aviator if 50%+ can't get hold of it (I don't know the percentage of the group as to who is where). Let's just go with the Forest.

Val wrote: "I will nominate Mr Britling Sees it Through

You could join it with the short The Return of the Soldier and replicate the Wells/West coupling existing when both books were written.
Just kidding. Mr. Britling is of a substantial length by itself.

Thanks Jan - good idea Brian ;-)


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart
Susan: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport
Roman Clodia: The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
Jan: Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally
Val: Mr Britling Sees it Through by H.G. Wells

The Aviator of Tsingtao: My War in China and Escape from a British POW Camp is published by small Taiwan based Camphor Press, so is difficult to find. There was an earlier translation, My Escape from Donington Hall or My Escape From Donington Hall, which is easier to find if you want to keep the nomination.

Just catching up with this thread. I read Gossip from the Forest last year and it would make for an interesting discussion. Keneally succeeded brilliantly in bringing out the human elements of a story that is normally portrayed in terms of dry historical facts.

Yes, some great choices so far.

Thanks Val. Thanks Hugh. Jan can change her nomination is she chooses to in light of your post Val.

I think we're just waiting for Judy's nomination now. Unless anyone else is poised with a nomination? Or wants to nominate but is still mulling over what to choose? If you are thinking of nominating please let us know.


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart
Susan: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport
Roman Clodia: The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
Jan: Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally
Val: Mr Britling Sees it Through by H.G. Wells

Nigeyb, looks like we now have two nominations for Gossip from the Forest?

I've decided to nominate The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore, first published in 1916.


Here is a short blurb from Google Books - it seems as if many editions are still the older translation, though. This is a short novel, though page numbers vary in different editions.

Set against the backdrop of the Partition of Bengal by the British in 1905, Home and the World(Ghare Baire) is the story of a young liberal-minded zamindar Nikhilesh, his educated and sensitive wife Bimala, and Nikhilesh s friend Sandip, a charismatic nationalist leader whom Bimala finds herself attracted to. A perceptive exposition of the difficulties surrounding women s emancipation in pre-modern India, and a telling portrayal of the chasms inherent in the nationalist movement, Home and the Worldhas generated endless debate and discussion. This classic novel by Nobel Prize-winner Rabindranath Tagore, first published in Bengali in 1916, is now available in a lucid new translation.

Judy wrote: "I've decided to nominate The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore, first published in 1916."

Hurrah. Sounds fab.

Judy wrote: "Nigeyb, looks like we now have two nominations for Gossip from the Forest?"

So we do. Thanks Judy. Now corrected.


So last call for nominations. Anyone else considering a nomination?


Nominations so far...

Nigeyb: The Return of the Soldier (1918) by Rebecca West
Jamie: Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart
Susan: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport
Roman Clodia: The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
Jan: Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally
Val: Mr Britling Sees it Through by H.G. Wells
Judy: The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore

Just thought I'd mention a couple of other books I considered nominating (along with many others!) ... Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad (fantastic novel but maybe a bit long). The Perfect Summer: England 1911, Just Before the Storm by Juliet Nicolson - I have a copy of this and it looks really interesting, but not sure about availability outside the UK.

Judy wrote: "I've decided to nominate The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore, first published in 1916 ..."

Oh no, I was already struggling to decide what to vote for.....Seriously, though, what brilliant nominations, I do want to read them all