That the 'Great War' is still deeply disturbing to the imagination came home to one last year, when a First World War tank stood on display in the forecourt of the British Museum. One reacted to the sight with a shudder of horror, and also an obscure resentment - at the idea, which seemed to be implied, that we must now proudly regard this appalling object as part of our 'heritage'.

LRB 25 October 1990 | PDF Download