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Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
American writers on peace and against war
Nathanael West: Not their fault, they thought they had bombed a hospital
Nathanael West: One live recruit is better than a dozen dead veterans
Nathanael West: They haven’t the proper military slant
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Nathanael West
From Good Hunting (1938)
JARVIS
C company has been joined with D, making D full strength again.
(Moves flags)
FITZSIMMONS
(Ironically)
They’ll get two dinners per man tonight and double tobacco ration.
JARVIS
(Philosophically)
Wellington said: “You’ve got to break eggs to make an omelette.”
FITZSIMMONS
We’re not using eggs.
JARVIS
We must take the long view – every defeat is a victory in a war of attrition.
FITZSIMMONS
What would the men in the front lines think of that?
JARVIS
They know nothing of military science.
FITZSIMMONS
I think I could explain your war of attrition so they’d understand it. It’s like checkers. We have so many more men on the board than they have that we can afford to lose three of ours for every one of theirs and still win.
JARVIS
(Shocked)
The censors would never permit such an explanation.
FITZSIMMONS
Of course not. You couldn’t make war without the censors.
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GRACE
(…BOWKER comes in on his way to the garden, carrying some silver)
(Stopping him and examining the silver)
What beautiful Chinese silver, Bowker. Does the government issue it?
BOWKER
No, ma’am. We captured it in the Boxer rebellion.
GRACE
Looting!
BOWKER
(Smiling)
Spoils of war, rather, ma’am.
GRACE
The General should bring thinks like that home. What’s the use of being a soldier’s wife if one doesn’t get souvenirs?
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