This work investigates the intersection of poetic expression and the trauma of the First World War, questioning how the conflict fundamentally altered the trajectory of English verse. Jon Silkin, a poet and critic, examines the works of major war poets to determine how their experiences in the trenches necessitated a shift in language, form, and thematic focus. By analyzing the tension between traditional poetic structures and the visceral reality of industrial warfare, Silkin provides a framework for understanding the evolution of modern war poetry.

Scholars and critics frequently cite this work as a significant contribution to the study of twentieth-century literature and the specific impact of the Great War on poetic form. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a foundational knowledge of the period's literary history.