Literature Highlights: Veteran Literature
Today we’re looking at war narratives and experiences of veterans through different forms and genres of literature.
While wars last a couple of years, their effects on the personal and professional lives of veterans continue for much longer. Let’s look at these experiences of veterans who returned for war and service victorious, defeated, and forever changed—all at the same time.
Uncover the stories of courage, resilience, violence, and sacrifice hidden within pages of poetry, prose, memoirs, and graphic novels as we delve into the multifaceted world of veteran narratives:
War and American Life: Reflections on Those Who Serve and Sacrifice by James Wright
“The son of a World War II veteran, I had joined the Marines at the age of seventeen, a natural move at that time in my small-town midwestern world and culture.” – Semper Fidelis, Introduction
Historian and former marine James Wright brings us a set of essays with the goal of helping people understand who veterans are, what they’ve done, and what we can do for them. This book stands out for its deeply personal and historically-informed perspective on the sacrifices made by those in uniform and how they influence American life. With these reflections, as readers, we’re encouraged to pay attention to the broader implications of war on national identity, social structures, collective memory, and so on.
Read an excerpt from the University of Chicago Press.
Read if you like: War essays, Military history, American history
HEAT + PRESSURE: Poems from War by Ben Weakley
“[I]f you had felt the sweating palms, the ache / of killing, the shame of making godless / what was sacred, you wouldn't buy my beer or shake / my hand. You wouldn't thank me for my service.” – Ben Weakley, Epitaph for a Deployment
In this debut collection, Weakley uses evocative poetry to explore the raw realities of war. In “Heat,” we receive an autobiographical account of his journey from childhood to becoming a soldier. The following sections then focus on the front lines—gunshots, bombs, death, nightmares, and more.
What differentiates Weakley’s poems is how he juxtaposes wartime experiences with reintegration into US society, especially with the current levels of destabilization in the country. In a review, Marshall McGurk highlights: “Veterans have struggled to come back to their homes and find everything changed. What is unique about Weakley’s work is his social commentary on the lack of humanity from our fellow citizens, when he was the one supposedly managing violence on our behalf.”
Readers looking for a poignant, thought-provoking exploration of the human spirit under extreme conditions—on the battlefield and after returning home—will find "Heat + Pressure" a compelling and unforgettable read.
Read if you like: War poetry
See Me for Who I Am: Student Veterans' Stories of War and Coming Home (edited by David Chrisinger and Brian Castner)
“With insight and clarity, they display a genuine curiosity in the examination of their new circumstances. Why do they crave work outdoors, mucking stables, raising chickens and goats? Why is it so hard to sit in a classroom? What is it about a manual, repetitive task that brings so much peace?” – Brian Castner, Foreword
