Description:
(English War Poet and Soldier Who Became One of the Leading Poets of the First World War)
One the most iconic figures of the 20th century, Siegfried Sassoon was a famous historian, poet, writer and soldier. He was among the first poets during World War I, whose poetry portrayed the graphic descriptions of the brutal realities of the war. In an era where people were lured by patriotic propaganda and romantic, heroic ideas of war, his poetry conveyed the merciless, inhumane and cold-blooded actualities on the war front. The trademark of all his writings is the details of foul-smelling rotting corpses, distorted limbs, filth, suicide and blood, which served as an effective anti-war stance. This type of writing had a significant impact on the genre of modernist poetry. Some of his well-known poems include, ‘The Old Huntsman’, The Hero’, ‘Aftermath’, ‘I Stood with the Dead’, ‘Trench Duty’ and ‘Repression of War’. Disillusioned with war, he refused to return to duty and strongly condemned it. As the witness to great bloodshed, he wrote a series of semi-autobiographical books viz., ‘Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man’, ‘Memoirs of an Infantry Officer’ and ‘Sherston's Progress’. This series of books came to be known as the ‘Sherston trilogy’. To learn more interesting facts about his personal life, childhood and wartime experiences, scroll down and continue to read this biography.
Birthday
September 8, 1886 (Virgo)
Born In
England
Died on
September 1, 1967
Spouse/Ex-
Hester Gatty
Parents
Alfred Ezra Sassoon
Theresa
Children
George
Relatives
Hamo Thornycroft
What impact did Siegfried Sassoon have on World War I?
Siegfried Sassoon was a prominent World War I poet who used his work to depict the harsh realities of war, leading to increased anti-war sentiments and influencing public opinion.
What were Siegfried Sassoon's views on patriotism during World War I?
Siegfried Sassoon was critical of blind patriotism during World War I and expressed disillusionment with the glorification of war in his poetry, advocating for a more critical and realistic approach to conflict.
How did Siegfried Sassoon's experiences in the war influence his poetry?
Siegfried Sassoon's experiences as a soldier in World War I deeply influenced his poetry, leading to themes of trauma, disillusionment, and the futility of war in his works.
What role did Siegfried Sassoon play in the literary community post-World War I?
Siegfried Sassoon was a key figure in the post-World War I literary community, known for his anti-war stance and for influencing other writers to address the impact of war on society and individuals in their works.