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National Myth and the First World War in Modern Popular Music

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • Explores how popular music depicts one of the most studied historical events
  • Combines memory studies, cultural history and music in a major interdisciplinary study
  • Utilises a range of approaches such as case studies and textual analysis

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Introduction

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 1-12
  3. National Myth and the First World War

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 13-48
  4. Remembrance, Memory and Popular Music

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 49-65
  5. Words and Music

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 67-86
  6. The Voice of the People

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 87-119
  7. Butcher’s Tales and Gunner’s Dreams

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 121-145
  8. Shrill Demented Choirs

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 147-181
  9. Football in No Man’s Land

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 183-201
  10. The Gospel According to St Wilfred

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 203-225
  11. Bombazine Dolls and Orders from the Dead

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 227-257
  12. Conclusion: Music and the Centenary

    • Peter Grant
    Pages 259-271
  13. Back Matter

    Pages 273-303

About this book

This book looks at the role of popular music in constructing the myth of the First World War. Since the late 1950s over 1,500 popular songs from more than forty countries have been recorded that draw inspiration from the War. National Myth and the First World War in Modern Popular Music takes an inter-disciplinary approach that locates popular music within the framework of ‘memory studies’ and analyses how songwriters are influenced by their country’s ‘national myths’. How does popular music help form memory and remembrance of such an event? Why do some songwriters stick rigidly to culturally dominant forms of memory whereas others seek an oppositional or transnational perspective? The huge range of musical examples include the great chansonniers Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens; folk maestros including Al Stewart and Eric Bogle; the socially aware rock of The Kinks and Pink Floyd; metal legends Iron Maiden and Bolt Thrower and female iconoclasts Diamanda Galás and PJ Harvey.

Reviews

“This book has been extensively researched and analytically is informed and astute. It is a valuable addition to both memory studies and music studies.” (European Journal of Communication, Vol. 33 (2), April, 2018)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Cass Business School, City University of London, United Kingdom

    Peter Grant

About the author

Peter Grant is Senior Lecturer at City University London, UK. His previous books include Philanthropy and Voluntary Action in the First World War and The Business of Giving. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a trustee of the Amy Winehouse Foundation and President of Kennington Cricket Club.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: National Myth and the First World War in Modern Popular Music

  • Authors: Peter Grant

  • Series Title: Palgrave Studies in the History of Subcultures and Popular Music

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-60139-1

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London

  • eBook Packages: History, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-60138-4Published: 28 December 2016

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-349-95880-1Published: 12 December 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-60139-1Published: 09 December 2016

  • Series ISSN: 2730-9517

  • Series E-ISSN: 2730-9525

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 303

  • Number of Illustrations: 22 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Cultural History, Music, Memory Studies, European History, History of Military

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access