| Author |
Empey, Arthur Guy, 1883-1963 |
| Title |
"Over the Top," by an American Soldier Who Went
Together with Tommy's Dictionary of the Trenches
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 79.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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| Credits |
Daniel Callahan
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| Summary |
"Over the Top" by Arthur Guy Empey is a historical account written during the early 20th century, specifically amidst World War I. The narrative chronicles Empey's personal experiences and observations as a soldier in the British Army, particularly focusing on the realities of trench warfare, the camaraderie among soldiers, and the stark contrast between the idealistic views of war and its brutal realities. The opening of the book introduces Empey as he reflects on his motivations for enlisting, amid a backdrop of American sentiments toward the war following the sinking of the Lusitania. He recounts his adventures as he transitions from a civilian in Jersey City to a machine gunner in the trenches of France, touching on the absurdities of military bureaucracy, the quest for comradeship, and the struggle of American soldiers to find their place within the British ranks. Empey’s distinctive voice illuminates the humorous yet sobering nuances of military life, setting the stage for the harrowing and often grim experiences that will follow as he goes "over the top" into battle. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
D501: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: World War I (1914-1918)
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| Subject |
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
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| Subject |
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
7962 |
| Release Date |
Apr 1, 2005 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Sep 26, 2023 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
182 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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