1914—Goodbye to All That
Writers on the Conflict Between Life and Art
(Author) Ali SmithIn this collection of essays, ten leading writers from different countries consider the conflicts that have informed their own literary lives. 1914-Goodbye to All That borrows its title from Robert Graves's "bitter leave-taking of England" in which he writes not only of the First World War but the questions it raised: how to live, how to live with each other, and how to write. Interpreting this title as broadly and ambiguously as Graves intended, these essays mark the War's centenary by reinvigorating these questions. The book includes Elif Shafak on an inheritance of silence in Turkey, Ali Smith on lost voices in Scotland, Xiaolu Guo on the 100,000 Chinese sent to the Front, Daniel Kehlmann on hypnotism in Berlin, Colm Toibin on Lady Gregory losing her son fighting for Britain as she fought for an independent Ireland, Kamila Shamsie on reimagining Karachi, Erwin Mortier on occupied Belgium's legacy of shame, NoViolet Bulawayo on Zimbabwe and clarity, Ales Steger on resisting history in Slovenia, and Jeanette Winterson on what art is for. Contributors include: Ali Smith - Scotland Ales Steger - Slovenia Jeanette Winterson - England Elif Shafak - Turkey NoViolet Bulawayo - Zimbabwe Colm Toíbín - Ireland Xiaolu Guo - China Erwin Mortier - Belgium Kamila Shamsie - Pakistan Daniel Kehlmann - Germany
Ali Smith
Ali Smith is a Scottish author known for her innovative and experimental writing style. She is best known for her seasonal quartet of novels, which includes "Autumn," "Winter," "Spring," and "Summer." Smith's works often blend genres and incorporate elements of postmodernism, feminism, and social commentary. She has been praised for her lyrical prose, sharp wit, and ability to capture the complexities of contemporary life. Smith's contributions to literature have earned her numerous awards and accolades, solidifying her reputation as one of the most important voices in contemporary fiction. Her most famous work is often considered to be "How to be Both," which won the 2015 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
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