Depictions and Images of War in Edwardian Newspapers, 1899-1914

Book excerpt: Through a detailed examination of newspaper coverage from 1899-1914, this book seeks to understand the vicarious experience of warfare held by Edwardians at the outset of the First World War. The attitudes towards and perceptions of war held by those who participated in it or encouraged others to do so, are crucial to our understanding of the origins of the First World War. Taking into account media history, cultural studies and military history, Wilkinson argues that the press depicted war as distant and safe; beneficial and desirable and even as some kind of sport or game. We are cautioned to avoid the same misconceptions of war in our own contemporary discussions of armed conflict.