[Bob_Huntley]

Has anyone here read any of this man's work?

Bob

[David Kelly]

Has anyone here read any of this man's work?

I read the "Great War and Modern Memory," which is a description of WWI and what it meant from the perspective of the British as well as a survey of the literature of the war.  It was hugely influential.

Another influential book of his, although much lighter and less serious in both tone and intention was his look at the class structure (he identifies 6) of the United States, "Class: A Guide Through the American Status System."  He wrote it in the early 80s but it doesn't date much at all.

Fussell saw adherence to the class structure and the striving to rise through that structure as limiting our freedom.  He pulled no punches when he described the various levels of class in the United States until he got to the "creative class" in the last chapter in which he stated that they are beyond class and thus are truly free. You can guess to which class Fussell self-identified.

[David_Elvins]

Bob,

I saw he died recently but have not read any of his work.  I always enjoy your recommendations, did he write anything you would consider a must read?

[Dan Kelly]

I have not read any of his work -- but found his testimony quite moving in Ken Burns's "The War" (highly recommended, if you have not watched it).

I was sad to see that he'd died.

[Carl Johnson]

I've read Class: A Guide Through the American Status System and Wartime: Understanding and Behavior in the Second World War.  I could not understand what Fussell was getting at in Class.  For me, it did not come off either as a serious work, as a satire, or anything else I could think of.

David Kelly, several posts above, says about Class: "Fussell saw adherence to the class structure and the striving to rise through that structure as limiting our freedom.  He pulled no punches when he described the various levels of class in the United States until he got to the 'creative class' in the last chapter in which he stated that they are beyond class and thus are truly free. You can guess to which class Fussell self-identified."  That's a fair description, but was this supposed to be serious (if so, silly), or just a joke at the expense of the academy (the least free and most class-obsessive folks I've ever experienced)?  I could not tell.

I thought Wartime offered a useful perspective, but I would not call it a "must read".  I read both books when they were first published, quite some time ago.

[David Kelly]

Carl,
Living in Los Angeles, I find the"creative class" highly class and status conscience. I think that Fussell was semi-serious about that book although it is pretty funny.

What he will be remembered for is "The Great War and Modern Memory." That led his obits and will be the one book of his that will continue to be read for a while.

[Carl Johnson]

Carl,
Living in Los Angeles, I find the"creative class" highly class and status conscience. I think that Fussell was semi-serious about that book although it is pretty funny.

What he will be remembered for is "The Great War and Modern Memory." That led his obits and will be the one book of his that will continue to be read for a while.

Haven't read the latter, but I'll put it on my list.  No question but that Fussell was very good writer.

[Phil McDade]

An interesting article about Fussell:

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_dilettante/2012/05/paul_fussell_remembering_the_author_of_the_great_war_and_modern_memory.single.html

[Bob_Huntley]

An interesting article about Fussell:

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_dilettante/2012/05/paul_fussell_remembering_the_author_of_the_great_war_and_modern_memory.single.html

An interesting article about Fussell:

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_dilettante/2012/05/paul_fussell_remembering_the_author_of_the_great_war_and_modern_memory.single.html

Phil,

Thanks for the link.

I think that "The Great War and Modern Memory." was a neccesary look at the absolute folly, horror and complete lack of anything resembling a way to wage war without the devasting loss of a generation in the trenches of France. The lessons of the Civil and and Boer Wars  were ignored.

Colonel Blimps prevailed.

Bob
 
 

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