John Masters' FWW Trilogy

[phil andrade]

The Road Past Mandalay made its mark on me : thereafter I was captivated by Masters.

 

Before this Great War trilogy he produced a book FOURTEEN EIGHTEEN, which was really a series of vignettes backed up by a large array of photographs, with text limited to depictions of a few episodes in the war.  A compelling effort, I think : it still passes muster.

 

There is something rather intense about the way Masters writes : he seems to indulge in emotions that go against the " stiff upper lip" tradition....I suspect that he sets out to shock. 

 

That said, I find his writing effective and convincing .  The trilogy  worked its magic on me.

 

Phil