This book investigates how the experience of the First World War was transformed into a cultural myth that shaped the English national identity throughout the twentieth century. Samuel Hynes, a professor of literature, utilizes a wide array of primary sources including memoirs, poetry, novels, and visual arts to examine the gap between the actual events of the war and the subsequent cultural narratives constructed around them. He argues that the 'myth of the war'—characterized by disillusionment and the loss of innocence—became the dominant framework through which English society understood the conflict long after the fighting ceased.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of memory, literature, and national identity in post-war Britain. Readers often note the academic rigor of the prose and the depth of the author's analysis regarding the construction of cultural myths.