Vera Mary Brittain was a British writer, feminist and pacifist. She was best remembered as the author of the best-selling 1933 book Testament of Youth, which recounters her experiences during World War I and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism. Vera began studying English Literature at Somerville College, Oxford. Later she delayed her degree after one year in the summer of 1915 in order to work as a V.A.D. nurse for much of the First World War. During the time of the First World War Vera lost close family and friends including her fiance, brother and two male friends. Vera finace had been killed on the Western front, Edward was injured in the Somme battle and the two male friends wounded in the trenches and Yrpes.

Vera Brittains dream was to become a professional writer. She decided upon a literacy carerr at a young age and to obtain this goal she wanted to attend a University.After she discussed the decisions with her parents ,they disagreed and had another outlook on life for her. They propsed motherhood and being a great wife for the upperclass. Along with her goals to attend college she wanted to study at Oxford for English. Vera relized her dreams and goals but it was shortly interputed because of the Eurpoean War. After the war she returned home and continued her education. In 1921, Vera graduted and moved to london to establish her self as a writer.

Vera Brittain became a Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse during the War. As a nurse in the war she encountered many problems that she could not control or bare.Their were successive deaths and daily unforgetable suffering she saw in the field and hospitals. Her duties included gruesome and complicated dressing of wounded prisoner.Brittain worked long hours in poor conditions. She found it hard to deal with the men who were wounded badily. She explains having to deal with flesh,diseases ,scarlet,and bare bones.Her real committment was to pacificsim and socialism. Pacificsim is the belief that any violence, including war, is unjustifiable under any circumstances, and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means. Socialism is a social and economic system characterised by social ownership of the means of production and co-operative management of the economy. During her duties she lost people in her life making it difficult to go on. Vera felt entirely alone and finally realized the real meaning of war and its affects on life.

Vera found it helpful to write her thoughts and opinions in a journal during the war to document her experiences but other dealt with it differently. Some individfuals adopted an anti war positions and other saw it as new opportunites for employment. At least one million women were formally added to the British workforce between 1914 and 1918. Many individuals created memoris,diaries,poems and battledfield accounts. Sketics were made out of charcoal,or sepia and were monuments of WWI.My reaction to the art is that its the best way to reflect on your feelings and emotions. I think that it is a positive way to vent and promote growth , to overcome tramtic events.

References

Spartacus Educational. (1997-2014). Women at War-Vera Brittain. Retrieved from http://spartacus-educational.com/Jbrittain.htm

The Guardian. (2014). World War I-First 100 Years On. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/mar/24/vera-brittain-testament-of-youth

Micheal Duffy. (200-2009). Prose & Poetry - Vera Brittain. Retrieved from http://www.firstworldwar.com/poetsandprose/brittain.htm