The Backwash of War The Human Wreckage of the Battlefield as Witnessed by an American Hospital Nurse

"The Backwash of War" by Ellen N. La Motte is a stark portrayal of World War I through the eyes of a hospital nurse, revealing the heartbreaking consequences of battle and the mental anguish endured by those touched by it. The book introduces us to the somber setting of a military field hospital in Belgium, where life alternates between tedious repetition and sudden rushes of urgent crisis. Beginning with the grim story of a soldier who tried to end his life after being labeled a deserter, it examines military existence's complexities, revealing the views of medical professionals and soldiers facing the war's senseless violence. Through the nurse's introspective thoughts, the narrative poses difficult questions about bravery, principles, and what it truly means to be a hero in the face of widespread destruction, providing an emotional picture of those dealing with the overlooked suffering caused by war.