Keith Douglas (1) (1920–1944)

It appears these days that many people come to Keith Douglas's writings through his poetry, however I stumbled across an old secondhand paperback of Alamein to Zem Zem years ago in a dark and musty corner of a basement bookshop. Being somewhat intrigued by the title at the time, I picked it up, and was glad I did. Sadly I gave that old paperback away, and regretted it ever since.

Recently I found myself searching for a copy with which to renew my acquaintance, stumbling across a reprint which I happily purchased online. I was pleasantly surprised the narrative had lost none of its power and poignancy with the passage of time. I'm not sure what makes this book what it is. Keith's wry humour? The intimacy of men in combat? Death, random and unexpected? Or the simple knowledge always behind the tale that the author survives the story but not the War? Pick up a copy if you can, and find out for yourself...

Highly recommended.

Copy purchased by the Reviewer from Book Depository.… (mais)

Perhaps a poet who happened to be in a war rather than a war poet. "Vergissmeinnicht" has been pounced upon by publishers looking for an example of writing from World War Two where personal observation meets the ethereal. His motifs are mankind amid the elements, colours and animals. His tradition is routed in Blake and the Victorian poets, yet he is Modernist and introspective in tone. His rhyming couplets, when employed, being particularly masterful, so a fine example of the craft.

Keith Douglas was killed three days into the Normandy invasion, aged twenty-four.… (mais)