Brian Murdoch Boeken

In The Germanic Hero Brian Murdoch looks at the role the warrior-hero plays within a set of predetermined political and social constraints. the hero is not a sword-wielding barbarian, bent only upon establishing his own fame; such fame-seekers (including some famous medieval literary figures) might even fall outside the definition of the Germanic hero, the real value of whose deeds are given meaning only within the political construct. Individual prowess is not enough. The hero must conquer the blows of fate because he is committed to the conquest of chaos, and over all to the need for social stability. Brian Murdoch discusses works in Old English, Old and Middle High German, Old Norse, Latin and Old French, deliberately going beyond what is normally thought of as 'heroic poetry' to include the German so-called 'minstrel epic', and a work by a writer who is normally classified as a late medieval chivalric poet, Konrad von Wurzburg, the comparison of which with Beowulf allows us to span half a millennium.

Exploring the works of Remarque, this analysis presents his novels as a profound chronicle of the 20th century, emphasizing their deeper significance beyond simply mirroring historical events. The examination reveals how his storytelling captures the complexities of human experience amidst turmoil, making his narratives resonate with timeless themes of loss, resilience, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.

Exploring the existential struggles in an age marked by war and destruction, this study delves into three significant twentieth-century German plays. It examines how characters confront the absence of salvation, highlighting the profound challenges of living amidst chaos. The analysis offers insights into the themes of mortality and meaning, reflecting the broader human experience in a tumultuous historical context.

Focusing on the complexities of collective memory, this book examines the impact of twentieth-century wars through diverse perspectives and disciplines. It draws from discussions at a 2000 conference at Stirling University, delving into how memory can be constructed or influenced. The exploration of themes such as remembering and forgetting offers insights into the ways societies process and memorialize their pasts.

Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front remains the archetypal example of an anti-war novel, and one that has become synonymous with the Great War. Yet the tremendous and enduring popularity of Remarque’s work has to some extent eclipsed a plethora of other German anti-war writers. In order to provide a more rounded view, this volume offers a selection of essays published by Brian Murdoch over the past twenty years. A new introduction provides the context for the volume and survey recent developments in the subject, the essays that follow range broadly over the German anti-war literary tradition, telling us much about the shifting and contested nature of the war.

New view of Remarque's novels as a chronicle of the century yet more than a mere reflection of historical events.

The accepted canon of war poetry usually includes only those underlining patriotic or nationalistic views. This study opens up the view of war poetry with the inclusion of such material as Nazi poetry and song, and the poetry of the atomic bomb.