Writing the War Memoirs 1931–36

Few political memoirs of the Great War have been as influential or as controversial as Lloyd George’s War Memoirs. Over the years these volumes have made a significant contribution to shaping the historical and popular perceptions of the key events and especially the personalities of the 1914–18 conflict. When the Memoirs first appeared in 1933–36 the responses of critics and the reading public testify to the passionate reaction to his arguments and criticisms.1 In particular, many were outraged by the attacks on the generals, some praised the literary style and many the extensive documentation. It is no surprise that the Memoirs stirred controversy. The public and private memory of the war was still fresh in the minds of the adult population, and Lloyd George was an important figure in British politics even after his resignation in 1922.