Wasteland : The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror

**Historian W. Scott Poole traces the confluence of history, technology, and art that gave us modern horror films and literature.**The roots of modern horror are found in the First World War. It was the most devastating event to occur in the early 1900s, with 38 million dead and 17 million wounded in the most grotesque of ways, owing to the new machines brought to war. If__Downton Abbey__showed the ripple effect of this catastrophe above stairs,__Wasteland__reveals how bloody battlefields, screaming asylums, and desolated cities and villages made their ways into the darker corners of our psyche.Historian W. Scott Poole chronicles the era’s major figures—Freud, T.S. Eliot, H.P. Lovecraft, Wilfred Owen, Peter Lorre, David Cronenberg, and Freddy Krueger—as well as their influences.__Wasteland__is a surprising—but wholly convincing—perspective on horror that also speaks to the audience for history, film, and popular culture.November 11th, 2018 is the one-hundredth anniversary of the signing of the armistice that brought World War I to a close, and a number of smart and well-received recent histories have helped us reevaluate this conflict. Now W. Scott Poole takes us behind the frontlines of battle to the dark places of the imagination where the legacy of the War to End All Wars lives on. The Roots Of Modern Horror Are Found In The First World War. It Was The Most Devastating Event To Occur In The Early 1900s, With 38 Million Dead And 17 Million Wounded In The Most Grotesque Of Ways, Owing To The New Machines Brought To War. If Downton Abbey Showed The Ripple Effect Of This Catastrophe Above Stairs, Wasteland Reveals How It Made Its Way Into The Darker Corners Of Our Psyche On The Bloody Battlefield, The Screaming Asylum, And Desolated Cities And Villages. Historian W. Scott Poole Chronicles The Era's Major Figures And Their Influences--freud, T.s. Eliot, H.p. Lovecraft, Wilfred Owen And Peter Lorre, David Cronenberg And Freddy Krueger--as Well As Cult Favorites And The Collective Unconscious. Wasteland Is A Surprising--but Wholly Convincing--perspective On Horror That Also Speaks To The Audience For History, Film, And Popular Culture. November 11th, 2018 Is The 100th Anniversary Of The Signing Of The Armistice That Brought The First World War To A Close, And A Number Of Smart And Well-received Recent Histories Have Helped Us Reevaluate This Conflict. Now W. Scott Poole Takes Us Behind The Frontlines Of Battle To The Dark Places Of The Imagination Where The Legacy Of The War To End All Wars Lives On -- Foreword: Corpses In The Wasteland -- Symphony Of Horror -- Waxworks -- Nightmare Bodies -- Fascism And Horror -- Universal Monsters -- Afterword: The Age Of Horror. W. Scott Poole. Includes Bibliographical References. Historian W. Scott Poole traces the confluence of history, technology, and art that gave us modern horror films and literature. The roots of modern horror are found in the First World War. It was the most devastating event to occur in the early 1900s, with 38 million dead and 17 million wounded in the most grotesque of ways, owing to the new machines brought to war. If Downton Abbey showed the ripple effect of this catastrophe above stairs, Wasteland reveals how bloody battlefields, screaming asylums, and desolated cities and villages made their ways into the darker corners of our psyche. Historian W. Scott Poole chronicles the era’s major figures—Freud, T.S. Eliot, H.P. Lovecraft, Wilfred Owen, Peter Lorre, David Cronenberg, and Freddy Krueger—as well as their influences. Wasteland is a surprising—but wholly convincing—perspective on horror that also speaks to the audience for history, film, and popular culture. November 11th, 2018 is the one-hundredth anniversary of the signing of the armistice that brought World War I to a close, and a number of smart and well-received recent histories have helped us reevaluate this conflict. Now W. Scott Poole takes us behind the frontlines of battle to the dark places of the imagination where the legacy of the War to End All Wars lives on. "The roots of modern horror are found in the First World War. It was the most devastating event to occur in the early 1900s, with 38 million dead and 17 million wounded in the most grotesque of ways, owing to the new machines brought to war. If Downton Abbey showed the ripple effect of this catastrophe above stairs, Wasteland reveals how it made its way into the darker corners of our psyche on the bloody battlefield, the screaming asylum, and desolated cities and villages. Historian W. Scott Poole chronicles the era's major figures and their influences--Freud, T.S. Eliot, H.P. Lovecraft, Wilfred Owen and Peter Lorre, David Cronenberg and Freddy Krueger--as well as cult favorites and the collective unconscious. Wasteland is a surprising--but wholly convincing--perspective on horror that also speaks to the audience for history, film, and popular culture. November 11th, 2018 is the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that brought the First World War to a close, and a number of smart and well-received recent histories have helped us reevaluate this conflict. Now W. Scott Poole takes us behind the frontlines of battle to the dark places of the imagination where the legacy of the war to end all wars lives on" -- Provided by publisher A historian and Bram Stoker Award nominee traces the birth of modern horror movies and literature back to World War I, exploring how the conflict influenced H.P. Lovecraft, Franz Kafka, and other artists of the genre. From Nosferatu to Frankenstein's monster, from Fritz Lang to James Whale, the touchstones of horror can all trace their roots to the bloodshed of the First World War. Bram Stoker Award nominee W. Scott Poole traces the confluence of military history, technology, and art in the wake of World War I to show how overwhelming carnage gave birth to a wholly new art form: modern horror films and literature. Foreward 3 Chapter One 15 Chapter Two 59 Chapter Three 107 Chapter Four 157 Chapter Five 205 Afterword 251 269 271