Depictions and images of war in Edwardian newspapers, 1899-1914

"This book by Glenn R. Wilkinson seeks to delve deeper into the origins of war by examining the way that war was viewed before 1914. It argues that impressions of war experienced through the press gave newspaper readers a positive image of war. War was seen as a natural and beneficial activity for individuals as well as the 'race'. Soldiers were increasingly felt to be paragons of civilization, carrying British justice and science to the backward sections of the world. War itself was likened to a game or sport, or to entertainment such as theatre and spectacle. The negative aspects of war, horrific wounds and ultimately death, were downplayed or denied, making the perceived positive aspects seem more powerful. We are cautioned to avoid the same misconceptions of war in our own contemporary discussions of armed conflict."--BOOK JACKET.