‘Nothing in the papers, not the most vivid and heart-rending descriptions, have made me realise war like your letters’ Vera Brittain to Roland Leighton, 17 April 1915.

This selection of letters, written between 1913 and 1918, between Vera Brittain and four young men - her fiance Roland Leighton, her brother Edward and their close friends Victor Richardson and Geoffrey Thurlow present a remarkable and profoundly moving portrait of five young people caught up in the cataclysm of total war.

Roland, ‘Monseigneur , is the 'leader’ and his letters most clearly trace the path leading from idealism to disillusionment. Edward, Immaculate of the Trenches , was orderly and controlled, down even to his attire. Geoffrey, the non-militarist at heart had not rushed to enlist but put aside his objections to the war for patriotism s sake. Victor on the other hand, possessed a very sweet character and was known as Father Confessor . An important historical testimony telling a powerful story of idealism, disillusionment and personal tragedy.