Carry On: Letters in War-Time

In these letters a young officer, educated at Oxford and steeped in poetry, writes from the front with a voice that is both scholarly and deeply human. He shares the day‑to‑day realities of artillery life, the sudden flashes of terror, and the quieter moments when nature’s beauty pierces the gloom. The correspondence feels like a private journal, inviting listeners to hear the cadence of a mind striving to reconcile idealism with the harsh demands of war.

The collection is framed by an introduction from his father, offering context about the writer’s literary ambitions and the personal courage that underlies each page. As the war progresses, the letters trace a gradual reshaping of the soldier’s spirit—hardship is met with compassion, fear with humor, and a steadfast belief that life after the guns fall will be sweeter. The listener is left with a moving portrait of a man who, even amid conflict, clings to hope, love, and the simple joy of a wind through the trees.