Good-Bye to All That is an autobiographical memoir by the British poet and author Robert Graves, first published in 1929. Written in the aftermath of World War I, the book chronicles Graves’s early life, his experiences as a soldier in the Great War, and his disillusionment with the society and values of the postwar era.
The memoir is renowned for its vivid, unflinching depiction of trench warfare, highlighting the horrors, absurdities, and profound human cost of the conflict. Graves also delves into his relationships with fellow soldiers, including notable figures like Siegfried Sassoon, and reflects on the psychological impact of war, including his own struggles with shell shock.
The title, Good-Bye to All That, reflects Graves’s sense of breaking away—not only from the war but also from the conventions, traditions, and hypocrisies of prewar England. The book’s candid tone and sharp critique of military and societal norms made it both controversial and groundbreaking at the time of its publication.
Praised for its honesty and literary quality, Good-Bye to All That remains a classic of war literature and an essential firsthand account of World War I’s lasting legacy on the individuals who lived through it.
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