Not some play written by an academic sat in a warm study years after the horrific events of World War One Journey's End was written by a man who actually served 3 years in the trenches himself.
It is a very powerful piece of writing one minute you will find yourself laughing and the next close to tears.
Pushed to the very edge of sanity by the horrors of life in the trenches it is only alcohol and the friendship of 'Uncle' Osborne that are holding Stanhope together and when the excitable young Raleigh arrives to join his 'hero' (Capt. Stanhope) in the front lines Stanhope's whole world is shattered as the reality that his loved ones at home might possibly learn of his dramatic change in character dawn upon him.
The themes touched on by this play are too many to list here but rest assured you will not find a play that deals with such a hard subject matter as the trenches that is in the same league as Journey's End.
Whilst entertaining Journey's End treats each character and the reader with respect and decency throughout.
From the opening meeting of Capt. Hardy and Lt. Osborne to the moving end (which I won't spoil) you cannot help but turn over page after page gaining a small insight into the harsh existence that the officers of World War One faced each day they were in the front line.
This play is essential reading for any student studying literature of the First World War at any level.
Highly recommended.