Letters of the First World War – What’s Old is News

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By Sean Graham

This week, I talk with Marth Hanna, author of Anxious Days and Tearful Nights: Canadian War Wives During the First World War. We discuss Martha’s entry into the world of First World War letters, the challenge of tracking down letters from over 100 years ago, and how women on the front lines managed their relationships with significant others fighting the war. We also chat about censorship of letters, the challenge of what to share and what to hide from your spouse during the war, and what happened to relationships following the war.

Historical Headline of the Week

Arthur White-Crummey, “Captured First World War pilot’s note reunited with family in Ottawa,” CBC.ca, August 17, 2024.

Sean Graham is a cultural historian, an Adjunct Professor at Carleton University, and a contributing editor with Activehistory.ca