A New Way of Seeing
Distance and Traumatic Memory in the Poetry of World War II
By Michael Sarnowski | Publisher: LSU Press
About the book
A New Way of Seeing considers the poetry of five writers—Louis Simpson, Keith Douglas, Richard Hugo, Howard Nemerov, and Randall Jarrell—whose work draws on their activities as soldiers in World War II. Basing his examination on extensive primary-source research, Michael Sarnowski identifies distance, both literal and figurative, and traumatic memory as two interconnected elements of how these poets internalized the war and made sense of the events they witnessed.
The book is structured on a gradient related to each poet’s proximity to combat, as the chapters in turn focus on an infantryman (Simpson), a tank commander (Douglas), a bombardier (Hugo), a pilot (Nemerov), and a stateside flight instructor (Jarrell). Sarnowski relies on a wealth of archival material overlooked by previous scholarship, including poem drafts, correspondence, flight logs, and personal belongings. The conclusion revisits notions of legacy and representation by assessing factors that contributed to the early labeling of World War II soldiers as a “Silent Generation,” in contrast to the outpouring of poetry published during and following the First World War.
By exploring how poets processed their wartime experiences, A New Way of Seeing offers a stark reminder of why it remains vital to recognize the physical, mental, and psychological consequences endured by veterans.
Editions of A New Way of Seeing
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807183991
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807184400
- PDF
- ISBN 9780807184417
Read an Excerpt
A New Way of Seeing considers the poetry of five writers—Louis Simpson, Keith Douglas, Richard Hugo, Howard Nemerov, and Randall Jarrell—whose work draws on their activities as soldiers in World War II. Basing his examination on extensive primary-source research, Michael Sarnowski identifies distance, both literal and figurative, and traumatic memory as two interconnected elements of how these poets internalized the war and made sense of the events they witnessed.
The book is structured on a gradient related to each poet’s proximity to combat, as the chapters in turn focus on an infantryman (Simpson), a tank commander (Douglas), a bombardier (Hugo), a pilot (Nemerov), and a stateside flight instructor (Jarrell). Sarnowski relies on a wealth of archival material overlooked by previous scholarship, including poem drafts, correspondence, flight logs, and personal belongings. The conclusion revisits notions of legacy and representation by assessing factors that contributed to the early labeling of World War II soldiers as a “Silent Generation,” in contrast to the outpouring of poetry published during and following the First World War.
By exploring how poets processed their wartime experiences, A New Way of Seeing offers a stark reminder of why it remains vital to recognize the physical, mental, and psychological consequences endured by veterans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A New Way of Seeing about?
A New Way of Seeing considers the poetry of five writers—Louis Simpson, Keith Douglas, Richard Hugo, Howard Nemerov, and Randall Jarrell—whose work draws on their activities as soldiers in World War II. Basing his examination on extensive primary-source research, Michael Sarnowski identifies distance, both literal and figurative, and traumatic memory as two interconnected elements of how these poets internalized the war and made sense of the events they witnessed.
The book is structured on a gradient related to each poet’s proximity to combat, as the chapters in turn focus on an infantryman (Simpson), a tank commander (Douglas), a bombardier (Hugo), a pilot (Nemerov), and a stateside flight instructor (Jarrell). Sarnowski relies on a wealth of archival material overlooked by previous scholarship, including poem drafts, correspondence, flight logs, and personal belongings. The conclusion revisits notions of legacy and representation by assessing factors that contributed to the early labeling of World War II soldiers as a “Silent Generation,” in contrast to the outpouring of poetry published during and following the First World War.
By exploring how poets processed their wartime experiences, A New Way of Seeing offers a stark reminder of why it remains vital to recognize the physical, mental, and psychological consequences endured by veterans.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in A New Way of Seeing?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism
Where can I read a sample of A New Way of Seeing?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807183991
How long is A New Way of Seeing and how many pages does it have?
A New Way of Seeing has 274 page(s)
Is A New Way of Seeing part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series American Wars and Popular Culture
Who is/are the Author/s of the book A New Way of Seeing?
Michael Sarnowski
Who is the Publisher of the book A New Way of Seeing?
LSU Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
A New Way of Seeing is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807183991) and hardcover(ISBN 9780807184400) and pdf(ISBN 9780807184417)
Where can I buy A New Way of Seeing online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy A New Way of Seeing?