Poppies have long symbolized those who fell on the battlefields of France during WWI – largely because of the poem “In Flanders Fields” written by John McCrae in May 1915 about the Great War.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
This year – and this summer, in particular – marks the 100th-anniversary of the start of WWI, with these key dates:
June 28, 1914 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated by a Serbian
July 28, 1914 – Austria declares war on Serbia
August 1, 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia, Serbia’s ally
August 3, 1914 – Germany declares war on France, Russia’s ally
August 4, 1914 – Great Britain declares war on Germany in response to Germany invading Belgium
Having studied much about this war and the time period, I’m thrilled to have my Of Love and War series release during this anniversary year – taking readers from the home front, to a war hospital near the front lines, to England in 1920 as the world struggles to recover from the effects of the Great War.
And speaking of release – HOPE AT DAWN comes out in two weeks!
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Congratulations, Stacy. That poem is one of my longtime favorites, and one of the saddest poems I know. I'm engrossed in WWI, too. It's great that your series is coming out in this significant anniversary year.
I love learning about WW1 and II. Congrats about your new book coming out! I love the cover:)
Elizabeth – It is a sad one! How cool that you're studying this time period, too.
Terri – Thank you! And I agree – both world wars are such interesting times in history.