Title: Behind the Lines.
Author: A.A. Milne.
Genre: Poetry, WWII.
Country: England, U.K.
Language: English.
Publication Date: 1940.
Summary: A collection of
43 poems written as a
diary of the first 9 months of WWII.
Deliverance describes the impression upon the announcement of the beginning of WII.
Adolf Hitler is a critical portrait of the German dictator.
The Third String is a besmirching poem about Rudolf Hess.
High Purpose is a poem about Hitler changing his mind and joining hands with Stalin.
An Alphabet is an abecedarium in verse about the war.
The Portrait Gallery is a parody of German citizens and characters.
Black-Out is a poem about the black-outs that were so disturbing and annoying.
Hausfrau Speaks is a poem about
Mein Kampf and its meaning to the German people.
The Sinking of The Winston Churchill is a poem in which Goebbels recounts the torpedoing and sinking of
The Winston Churchill of the British Fleet.
Song for a Soldier is from a point of view of a young, newly-enlisted soldier, who yearns to win the war for his mother.
Unity is a poem about Hitler's meeting with his closest associates, of whom he is not a fan. In
War Work, the author suggests how he would move around the local geography to help with the war.
Information is a poem about how information and propaganda makes their way through the world.
Farewell to Butter is an ode to butter, which was heavily rationed during the war.
The Supermen is a mocking poem about the Germans being the Chosen Race.
Safety is a humorous poem about safety pacts and their efficacy, the author taking as example recent pacts with Baltic States and the earlier one with Finland and Russia.
Par Nobile Fratrum wonders who wold be better, Stalin or Hitler. In
The British Communist, the author critiques Communism with the example of Soviet Union, where adherents were required to suddenly and drastically change their allegiances back and forth between vastly different "Communist" leaders.
Travel is about the solitude and mystery of traveling with strangers, and not quite being sure when your station is.
Class Distinction is a poem about class distinction, and how nothing actually changes after a workers' revolution when capitalism takes the stage.
Hoares de Combât is a poem where the author reveals what he would do if he were Prime Minister and had to choose a Cabinet.
Excelsior is the author's take on the famous Longfellow poem of the same name, in the context of the war, in which a young man travels through a mountain village at dusk, bearing the banner "Excelsior," and refuses to heed warning and take rest on his way up the mountain.
Merry Christmas is a poem about the first Christmas of the war, and trying to keep it merry still.
Obsession looks at Winston Churchill from Goebbels's and Germans' point of view, as the causer of all evils.
Home Service is about the BBC Home Service, which is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 1st September 1939 and ended on the 29th September 1967. In
The Bottle, the author, passing through a humble village, is surprised to stumble on a rare wine bottle only to find out people were saving it to celebrating Hitler's demise. In
Weather Report, the author remarks how one of the things he misses most during the war are the weather reports and competing with other regions for worse weather. In
Almost a Gentleman, the author mocks the phenomenon as a German "almost gentleman" addresses a typical British one.
Sleep No More is the author's wish that Hitler is haunted by all those whose deaths he is responsible for, and is unable to sleep again.
The Neutral is a poem about the dangers of political neutrality, and making others establish your values and beliefs for you.
Talk is a poem about the author realizing every station on the radio is filled with political war talk and propaganda all over the world.
Officers and Gentlemen is a humorous poem about three gentlemen and officers winning the war with the help of marmalade-making and financial finagling.
Matilda, the author recalls his disappointment in Norway's occupation by recalling his meeting with an enchanting young lady named Matilda whilst sailing to Norway.
Spring Offensive is an allegorical poem about a harsh spring. In
Quid Pro Quo, the author defends war taxation, expressing pleasure to be able to contribute in some way, being too old to fight at the front whilst others die.
Guests is a poem about refugees, wherein the author expresses they have been more pleasant and welcome company than most of his friends.
The Patriot is about a German calmly proceeding to play golf and enjoying life as the war rages on.
Old Soldier is a melancholy poem about an a veteran soldier struggling with yet another war, and finding he may not be a soldier any longer.
Wishful Thinking is a humorous poem that criticizes those who criticize positive and wishful thinking.
The Voice of Italy is a poem about Italy's threats and eventual entry into the war.
To America critiques America's refusal to enter the war, and an urging to do so.
The Conscientious Objector is a harsh critique of anyone who claims to be one, and an argument that even from a Christian point of view, the stance is not defendable.
The Lost Generation praises the generation which was "raised by women" and made fun of during WWI, but went to war to the awe of WWI veterans during WWII.
My rating: 7.5/10
My review: ( Behind the LinesCollapse )
