To End All Others: A Great War Trio

The soiled rain of putrid trenches drips further and further into the mud. The dew droplets of a French bi-plane awake to the rising sun. A father lies awake at night, knowing that somewhere, his son is facing a hell on Earth. This is the Great War, and the terrors, struggles, sacrifices, and tears of that conflict remain with us. Into that tragic world, this collection offers a brief window."To End All Others" is a short compilation of stories about World War I and the terrible struggles of humanity within that horrific war. It opens with "Another Dream," a poem which mirrors a work by Siegfried Sassoon, the decorated British veteran and conscientious objector of the war. The poem reflects the lasting, harrowing effects of the Great War on the men who sacrificed their boyhood for their nation; while the battles end, the war lives on for untold years in the minds of its veterans. Next, a father strives to make the world see reason as Europe descends into the abyss of war. The man mourns as a patriotic son embraces the nationalistic craze and eagerly joins the army. Throughout the following years, his thoughts and aching heart are shown through poignant letters to his wife. Yet, "An Era Recalled, a Sorrow Relived" displays that peace is not always fulfilling and seldom brings relief. Finally, "The Mandate" reveals a tale about the knights of the air, the Great War's pioneers of aviation. The French hero Georges Guynemer struggles to reconcile his humanity with his duty amid the furious skies over France. All told, "To End All Others" provides a fitting tribute to the millions of men whose lives were ended amid the mire of the trenches, the expanses of the air, and the flowing depths of the oceans. Perhaps, in some small way, it will ensure that we never forget their sacrifices.