"An Onlooker in France 1917-1919" by William Orpen is a true story of one man's time in France during World War I, sharing both the good times and the sad times he had while seeing the war. He recounts meeting soldiers, watching them suffer, seeing them be friends, and trying to survive a very messy war. Orpen starts by writing about his trip to France in April 1917, showing how soldiers were brave but also scared. He talks about how safe he was as an artist compared to how dangerous things were for the soldiers. As he got to places like Boulogne and Amiens, Orpen mixes funny stories with moments of sadness about the war's impact, all while showing how the war changed the world around him. He sets the scene to explore how weird war is, the strong spirit of the soldiers, and how he remembers beautiful and scary places that were hurt by the fighting.
An Onlooker in France 1917-1919
By William Orpen
Witness a personal account of life and death on the front lines through the eyes of an artist amidst the chaos of World War I.
Summary
About the AuthorMajor Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen, was an Irish artist who mainly worked in London. Orpen was a fine draughtsman and a popular, commercially successful painter of portraits for the well-to-do in Edwardian society, though many of his most striking paintings are self-portraits.
Major Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen, was an Irish artist who mainly worked in London. Orpen was a fine draughtsman and a popular, commercially successful painter of portraits for the well-to-do in Edwardian society, though many of his most striking paintings are self-portraits.
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