Depictions and Images of War in Edwardian Newspapers, 1899–1914

This book is dedicated to Evelyn Mae Wilkinson (1933±1997), whose love of history influenced me enormously, and who taught me about the importance and influence of history. I cherish her stories still. Through a detailed examination of newspaper coverage from 1899-1914, this book seeks to understand the vicarious experience of warfare held by Edwardians at the outset of the First World War. The attitudes towards and perceptions of war held by those who participated in it or encouraged others to do so, are crucial to our understanding of the origins of the First World War. Taking into account media history, cultural studies and military history, Wilkinson argues that the press depicted war as distant and safe; beneficial and desirable and even as some kind of sport or game. We are cautioned to avoid the same misconceptions of war in our own contemporary discussions of armed conflict. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction: ‘They Had Been Taught to Howl’....Pages 1-14 ‘Uncouth, Unkempt Barbarians’: The Depiction of Belligerents....Pages 15-41 ‘The Woof and Warp of the Web of Life’: The Depiction of the Use of Force....Pages 42-67 ‘The Great Game of War’: The Image of War as Sport and Hunting....Pages 68-90 ‘This Wonderfully Lovely Theatre of War’: The Imagery of Stage and Spectacle....Pages 91-109 ‘A Withering Fire that Mowed Them Down in Heaps’: Images of Death and Wounding....Pages 110-133 Conclusion: ‘The Blessings of War’....Pages 134-137 Back Matter....Pages 138-185