A review by middleone95
Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain

5.0

The first three quarters of The Testament of Youth is really a spectacular journey through Vera Brittain’s young adulthood. You feel like you’re growing with her and there’s a notable difference in the tone of voice between the beginning chapters and where she ends the books despite Vera being much older at the time of writing. What was particularly astonishing and enjoyable was the level of detail she managed to cram into the pages, from eating omelettes with her fellow nurses at Etaples to walking by the drained lakes in St James’ Park and her frustration at conversation topics on her return to England. Her record keeping and memory alone are worth reading this for. She writes well and self-consciously of her life and relationships as well as her wider role within the world and as the reader you’re forced to face some quite stark realities of the First World War from a woman’s point of view. I would recommend this to anyone who doesn’t mind a deep dive into a larger life.