7 Invasion-scare literature and the First World War
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Christian K. Melby
Abstract
The final chapter of the book shows how invasion-scare literature was mobilised for war in 1914-1918. Showing many of the same trends that were evident in 1871, the chapter argues that invasion-scare texts (and visual culture and films) were used to mobilise opinion for the war effort, but that here too the stories could be imbued with different meanings. Older stories, including The Battle of Dorking, were republished in 1914, but were read with new eyes: either as foretelling the war, or as examples of British militaristic tendencies. As a genre that could be fitted to suit different arguments, pre-war invasion-scare texts were attempted used as war propaganda, and new stories were written with the same characteristics as pre-war literature.
Abstract
The final chapter of the book shows how invasion-scare literature was mobilised for war in 1914-1918. Showing many of the same trends that were evident in 1871, the chapter argues that invasion-scare texts (and visual culture and films) were used to mobilise opinion for the war effort, but that here too the stories could be imbued with different meanings. Older stories, including The Battle of Dorking, were republished in 1914, but were read with new eyes: either as foretelling the war, or as examples of British militaristic tendencies. As a genre that could be fitted to suit different arguments, pre-war invasion-scare texts were attempted used as war propaganda, and new stories were written with the same characteristics as pre-war literature.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures ix
- Abbreviations x
- Note on spelling xi
- Acknowledgements xii
- Introduction 1
- I Beginnings 19
- 1 The Battles of Dorking 21
- II Expertise, public opinion and invasion-scare fiction, 1870s to 1914 53
- 2 After Dorking 55
- 3 Public appeals and fiction, c. 1880–1894 83
- 4 Expert opinion and public pressure 117
- III Authors and readers 151
- 5 Fiction and society 153
- 6 Readers and receptions 189
- IV Fiction goes to war 229
- 7 Invasion-scare literature and the First World War 231
- Conclusion 263
- Bibliography 274
- Index 310
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures ix
- Abbreviations x
- Note on spelling xi
- Acknowledgements xii
- Introduction 1
- I Beginnings 19
- 1 The Battles of Dorking 21
- II Expertise, public opinion and invasion-scare fiction, 1870s to 1914 53
- 2 After Dorking 55
- 3 Public appeals and fiction, c. 1880–1894 83
- 4 Expert opinion and public pressure 117
- III Authors and readers 151
- 5 Fiction and society 153
- 6 Readers and receptions 189
- IV Fiction goes to war 229
- 7 Invasion-scare literature and the First World War 231
- Conclusion 263
- Bibliography 274
- Index 310
