Shell Shocked Britain

A fresh perspective on the history of the post-war period, and the plight of a traumatized nation.

We know that millions of soldiers were scarred by their experiences in the First World War trenches, but what happened after they returned home? Suzie Grogan reveals the First World War's disturbing legacy for soldiers and their families, exploring the myth of a nation of 'broken men' and 'spare women'.

In 1922, the British Parliament published a report into the situation of thousands of mentally ill ex-soldiers still in hospital. Suzie Grogan has examined what happened to these men, what sort of treatments were on offer to them, and what reception did they receive from their families and society?

Drawing on a variety of original sources, Suzie Grogan combines personal stories with a wider narrative of the war to show the true extent of the trauma experienced by the survivors. She also uncovers fascinating neglected areas, like the surge in spiritualism and the effects of the Zeppelin raids on the Home Front.