Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain

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Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain is her own story that she wrote about during the Great War otherwise known as World War One. The main theme of her story is the struggles that she had to face, whether it dealt with her family, or her personal goals such as attending college or the world that she was surrounded by. On page 17 Brittain stated that "When the Great War broke out, it came to me not as a superlative tragedy, but as an interruption of the most exasperating kind to my personal plans." Another important aspect of Vera's goals was the aspiration and ambition that she had, that aspiration allowed her to move forward in her life. In chapter 3, Vera mention that it was hard for her in the beginning to see how this war can impact her life, Vera said on page 94 that she knew very little about the significance of war because she knew little about the real meaning of war. This of course would change quickly as the town the she lived in begun to prepare for the war. When the great war broke out and the outcomes were felt in England, Vera's goals and dreams were becoming more of a dream than a reality. It must be said that although the War brought on many challenges, it was Vera's ambition that allowed her to keep moving forward and that ambition kept her mind in the right place during many triangulations. When the Great War broke out her brother postpones his education to serve in the army for the good cause, it can be said that Verda saw this as a humble move that moved her into completing a one year course, which gave her the ability to help people by becoming a nurse for Red Cross. It must be mentioned that although Verda became a nurse in the Red Cross, she did not find the work disagreeable, however her ambition did no... ... middle of paper ... ...hopes never left her just like her ambition was with her to the end. Although I must confess that I did not read the whole book, I must say what I read was some heavy stuff, I must say Vrea was a strong woman who seek not her own selfish way, but rather focused on others as well. After doing some research I came across that during the post part of the war Vera continue to fight what she believed in, whether it was workers party or the woman's movement. Some may consider this book bias, but I consider this book to be a true well written story of a woman who struggled and who never gave up. A story that actually used her diary entry that was implemented into the chapters. The author gave the reader the opportunity to see how hard her life was and how she withstood all that came at her, in a way this book an inspiration not only for women but rather to all of us.

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