Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror by W Scott Poole

What W Scott Poole does so well with Wasteland, is draw the parallels between World War I and the lasting impact it made on the West's collective psyche in terms of how horror, as a genre, has developed. I will admit that I've not watched nearly as many of the early horror films as I should have, but the connections that Poole makes with the awfulness that has been inflicted on Europe during the 20th century are impossible to ignore – especially the examination of how individuals give way to creative expression in the wake of their experiences of warfare or its aftereffects. 

If we consider how the human body was brutalised, depersonalised, it's easy to see this echoed in the rise of body horror and, of course, those perennial favourites such as the vampire and the zombie that continue to stalk the outskirts of our cultural objects. He goes into great depth, for instance, in a discussion of J'accuse (1919) where zombies made their debut, incidentally employing survivors from conflict to appear on screen. We gain glimpses into the creative genius of the likes of Fritz Lang, Murnau, Tod Brown, TS Eliot, Arthur Machen, and Franz Kafka, among many others who would have had first-hand experiences either on the battlefield or in a society distorted by the ripples caused by war.

Poole is clearly not only invested in the vast body of film and literature of the time that he discusses, but he is incredibly erudite and passionate in how he expands upon the subject. The audiobook is narrated by Andrew Eiden, who most certainly does justice to the subject matter, and helps contribute to an engaging listener experience.

There is no glorification of battle here, but rather a deep dive into the horrors of warfare – something that is all too easily glossed over by history books when we do not pause to consider the high individual cost in armed conflict. At times, Poole steps away from mere historian to make emotive observations, but overall, Wasteland is a veritable treasure trove that has inspired me to read and view more broadly.

If you're looking for a starting point in the horror genre in general, you can't go wrong with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this and feel like I have a greater understanding of the genre in general – and certainly have more context for the works that I have already dipped into.