Goodbye To All That

★★★★★ Stunning. A series of eloquent reflections on the nature of violence, loss, and grief.

The Telegraph

Featuring work by  Ali Smith, Kamila Shamsie, Daniel Kehlmann, Aleš Šteger, Elif Șafak, NoViolet Bulawayo, Erwin Mortimer, Xiaolu Guo, Colm Tóibín, Jeanette Winterson.

Lavinia Greenlaw, one of Britain’s most eminent poets and respected literary figures, invited 10 writers from countries involved in the First World War to respond to the title of Robert Graves’ famous book. Each took the poignant phrase ‘Goodbye to All That’ as a starting point for a personal reflection on the aftermath of war, as well as on the continuing struggle for artistic freedom in the face of conflict in all its forms.

Their written responses to Graves’ famous line were published as an anthology by Pushkin Press, broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and discussed at live events in London and Edinburgh. These stories, investigations and essays pay tribute to the spirit of Graves, an artist who remained true to himself in the face of personal trauma and public hostility.

Listen to Lavinia Greenlaw introduce the book on the BBC

The poet, novelist and classicist Robert Graves fought at the Battle of the Somme alongside his close friend and fellow soldier-poet Siegfried Sassoon. Among the most celebrated writers to emerge from the conflict, his autobiography ‘Goodbye to All That’, which he described as a ‘bitter leave-taking of England’, depicts the horror of war and documents the momentous social changes it brought about.

Lavinia Greenlaw also hosted an evening on 28 July 2014 at the British Library, with writers Aleš Šteger, Ali Smith, Daniel Kehlmann, Erwin Mortier, Kamila Shamsie, and Xiaolu Guo, who shared thoughts on their essays in Goodbye to All That.

The poet, novelist and classicist Robert Graves fought at the Battle of the Somme alongside his close friend and fellow soldier-poet Siegfried Sassoon. Among the most celebrated writers to emerge from the conflict, his autobiography ‘Goodbye to All That’, which he described as a ‘bitter leave-taking of England’, depicts the horror of war and documents the momentous social changes it brought about.