What Do I Read Next?
War poetry was prevalent in many ancient European societies, but no poet is more renowned or respected than Homer, a Greek poet believed to have lived in the eighth century B.C. Homer's epic works, The Iliad and The Odyssey, have significantly influenced Western poetry and, many argue, Western literature as a whole. The Iliad, which recounts events from the Trojan War, exemplifies the heroic war poetry that antiwar pieces like "The Arsenal at Springfield" oppose.
Longfellow’s Evangeline, first published in 1847, stands among his most famous works. Similar to "The Arsenal at Springfield," this narrative poem explores the impacts of war, focusing on two lovers separated by the conflicts of the French and Indian War.
Although military technology has progressed rapidly over the last two millennia, military theory often has not. The Art of War, a military strategy book authored by Sun Tzu in China approximately 2,500 years ago, remains relevant today, illustrating concepts from military tactics to business strategies.
Henry David Thoreau, a contemporary of Longfellow and an antiwar activist, chose imprisonment over paying taxes that would support the Mexican War. Although Ralph Waldo Emerson paid his debt, resulting in Thoreau spending only one night in jail, this experience profoundly affected him. He detailed his jail time and antiwar views in his essay "Civil Disobedience," initially published in 1849 as "Resistance to Civil Government."
Leo Tolstoy’s monumental novel, War and Peace, was first published in Russia in six volumes between 1863 and 1869. Despite its length, the book’s rich narrative and vivid characters make it a worthwhile read. While addressing grand themes like the Napoleonic wars, Tolstoy also delves into nearly every facet of human experience.
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