“Serpents of War:” A Discussion with Drs. Steven Trout & Ian Isherwood

Battles of the First World War Podcast

Mike Cunha

History

4.8 • 812 Ratings

🗓️ 6 December 2024

⏱️ 87 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From University Press of Kansas: “Serpents of War” is the memoir of Pennsylvanian Major Harry Dravo Parkin, is a rare account of World War I as seen from the perspective of a battalion commander. As a mid-level officer responsible for the lives and welfare of over a thousand men, Parkin conveys the stress of command at a time when one innocent blunder could cost an officer his combat assignment, brings the inferno of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive to life in terrifying, gory detail, and recounts being taken prisoner by the Imperial German Army—a rare experience among American soldiers in 1918. In addition, Parkin provides a detailed account of the 79th Division’s attack on Mountfaucon, a military action that remains controversial to this day. This is a book by a brave soldier, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism on the battlefield, and a gifted writer.

“Serpents of War" is an abridged edition of a nearly 200,000-word World War I memoir that resides in Gettysburg College’s Musselman Library, enhanced by the contributions of two scholars of World War I and memory. Written in an unassuming but eloquent style, Parkin’s narrative seldom strains for effect. It possesses a strong sense of setting, a knack for capturing the chaos and strange exhilaration of battle, and a sharp eye for the interpersonal, social dynamics of military life—the personality clashes and simmering feuds, as well as the moments of comradeship and accord. “Serpents of War” is an absorbing memoir that holds the reader’s attention from beginning to end.

Dr. Trout’s Travels in Harry Parkin’s footsteps -

https://kansaspress.ku.edu/blog/2024/09/26/on-the-serpents-trail-following-the-footsteps-of-harry-dravo-parkin/

Where to buy “Serpents of War: An American Officer's Story of World War I Combat and Captivity” -

https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700635054/serpents-of-war/

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The
0:07.0	The The
0:23.6	The Hey, folks. Welcome to the Battles of the First World War podcast.
0:57.8	Joining us today are Dr. Stephen Trout and Ian Isherwood, here to discuss their recently edited book titled Serpents of War, an American officer's story of World War I combat and captivity.
1:15.2	The author of the book was one Harry Dravo Parkin, who was a major in the 316th Infantry
1:20.9	Regiment of the 79th Division of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.
1:27.0	He was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross.
1:33.3	This past spring, I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Dr. Trout
1:37.3	at the Society for Military History Conference in Washington, D.C.
1:41.3	He was very gracious and kind, and it was a pleasure to speak with him
1:45.3	about the podcast and World War I in general. I'm excited to have him and Dr. Isherwood come on the show.
1:55.6	Dr. Stephen Trout is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Trout joined the UA English Department in 2020,
2:03.5	following appointments at the University of South Alabama and Fort Hay State University.
2:09.5	His interdisciplinary research focuses primarily on the cultural representation of war in literature,
2:16.9	visual art, and public monuments.
2:19.5	He is the author of three books, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Angel Fire, War, Remembrance,
2:26.0	and an American Tragedy, 2020. On the battlefield of memory, the First World War and American
2:32.6	Remembrance, 1919 through 1941, 2010, and memorial
2:38.5	fictions, Willa Cather, and the First World War, 2002, and the editor or co-editor of multiple
2:46.6	volumes, including portraits of remembrance, painting, memory, in the First World War
2:51.7	2020, World War I in American fiction, an anthology of short stories, 2014, and war plus
2:59.5	ink, new perspectives on Ernest Hemingway's early life and writings in 2013.
	...

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