In fact, this covers only English verse, not French, German or Russian, but nevertheless it is an unusual anthology. The major names are all here - Keith Douglas, Sidney Keyes, Alun Lewis, but many quite forgotten people seem to have written well and movingly under the pressure of great and terrible events. Many of these were killed, but others went on to civilian life - some obscurely, others successfully. In fact, most of the worst verse comes from the minor "professional" poets, some of whom are (unfortunately) still active and productive.