The Edwardian Age and World War I 

In a nutshell

In this summary, you will find all the information regarding the social and political changes that occurred during the Edwardian Age and World War I. In addition, one of the most iconic works by Ernest Hemingway: A Farewell to Arms.

The Edwardian Age

After Queen Victoria's death in 1901, her son Edward VII was crowned in 1902. During his reign, he assisted in foreign policy negotiations and contributed to the settlement of colonial disputes between France and Britain in 1904. In addition, King Edward founded the Order of Merit, which rewarded those who outstood in science, literature, and art.

In 1906, the Liberals won the general election and introduced national insurance and old-age pensions. Later in 1909, a constitutional crisis took place because the House of Lords refused to pass the Liberal 'People's Budget' which included taxes on the wealthy and welfare programs. 

Even though there was significant social advance during the Edwardian Age, it was a period full of strikes, unrest, and violence for the high prices and low wages. On the other hand, in the 1860s a group of women ('Suffragettes') started fighting for women's right to vote. So, in 1903 the Women's Social and Political Union was founded, which made the movement more solid. 

In 1910, Edward VII died and was succeeded by his son George V. After the break out of World War I, he was very supportive of hospitals and troops, also George V played an important role in Ireland's Independence, for example, participated in the General Strike of 1926. 

World War I

World War I began with the murder of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914 and Germany marched to Belgium to attack France. On the one hand, Germany and Austria-Hungary were teamed, on the other hand, the Allies, or Triple Entente: The British Empire, France, Russia, and later Italy and the United States. 

In 1914, Britain declared war on Germany for the agreement to respect Belgium's neutrality, this occasioned a wave of patriotism from Ireland and the Dominions that enabled Britain to face the problem with exceptional unity. Germany almost defeated the Allies in the first week since they had better equipment and soldiers, and Britain was not prepared for heavy artillery and the use of gas and shells during the attack. In fact, doctors diagnosed 'shell shock' which was a psychological disorder produced by shell explosions.

In 1917, the United States joined the war with the idea of a 'war to end all wars', the addition of America accelerated the German defeat in 1918. A year later, the peace treaty was signed in Versailles by British Prime Minister Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau of France, American President Woodrow Wilson, and Vittorio Emanuele Orlando of Italy. The effects of the war were devastating, about nine million men died, it made possible a Communist revolution in Russia and made things easy for dictators like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

A Farewell to Arms

Ernest Hemingway (1899- 1961) was an American writer and journalist from the 'Lost Generation'. He wrote about themes such as human dignity, human individuality, war, and morality. Hemingway spent a great part of his life working as a journalist and covering important events that inspired many of his works in countries like Italy, Spain, Cuba, and France. Moreover, Hemingway's poetry was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954, some of his more notable works were For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Old Man and the Sea, A Clean Well-Lighted Place, and Hills Like White Elephants.

One of Hemingway's most representative books was A Farewell to Arms, published in 1929. In this book, he tells the story of an American ambulance driver, Frederic, on the Italian front during WWI. Frederic falls in love with Catherine, his nurse, and then is called to the front where an unsuccessful retreat causes him to desert. 

The following extract is from A Farewell to Arms:

In this passage, the protagonist speaks about his point of view about the war. He gives his opinion on how officers are in charge and some people never realize they order brave soldiers to die. In addition, he is against war because, in a deeper sense, it cannot be justified.