The Soul of the Soldier: Sketches from the Western Battle-Front

"The Soul of the Soldier: Sketches from the Western Battle-Front" by Thomas Tiplady is a series of heartfelt writings from World War I, likely composed in the early 1900s. Penned by a chaplain serving on the front lines, it seeks to portray the lives of soldiers amidst the turmoil of conflict, focusing on their inner thoughts, feelings, struggles, and courageous actions, along with how much they miss home. The story starts by showing the painful contrasts of the Western Front. The author uses the death of a swan in Ypres as a symbol, representing loss of innocence with the horrors of war all around it. The author shows how soldiers, without using many words, show their inner selves through their actions. Tiplady highlights the mental struggles of those fighting and the quiet worries of their families, and the lasting bonds of friendship and humanity, even when faced with death and despair.