1914: Goodbye to All That

In Robert Graves’s autobiography Goodbye to All That he writes of his “bitter leave-taking of England” not only referring to the First World War, but the questions it raised: how to live, how to live with each other, and how to write.

Lavinia Greenlaw, one of Britain’s most eminent literary figures, invites writers from countries involved in the First World War to respond to Graves’ autobiography Goodbye to All That.

In readings and conversation, Ales Steger, Ali Smith, Daniel Kehlmann, Erwin Mortier, Kamila Shamsie and Xiaolu Guo reflect on the loss and discovery of literary innocence and ideals, the question of artistic freedom and the freedoms that have informed their own artistic lives.

Their written responses to Graves’ book are published as an anthology 1914 Goodbye to All That: Writers on the Conflict between Life and Art by Pushkin Press.

Co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW, WW1 Centenary Art Commissions