Regeneration Trilogy

The Regeneration Trilogy is a series of three novels by Pat Barker on the subject of the final part First World War, focusing primarily on 1917 and 1918. The novels blend fact and fiction, hanging on a frameworks of factual events, an interwoven set of fictional story-lines of real people with fictional characters.

The broad themes outlined across the three books are the modernisation of medicine in the treatment of trauma and mental illness with its differing application in relation to social class — the progressive and considerate cutting-edge Freudian treatment for officers versus the regressive, aggressive, and brutal aversion therapy for the lower ranks. Also, the theme of sexuality — hetero-, bi-, and homo-sexuality — is prevalent throughout and its interplay again across the social classes.

The main characters are:

In 2012, The Observer named the trilogy in its entirety as one of "The 10 best historical novels".[1]

References

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  1. ^ Skidelsky, William (13 May 2012). "The 10 best historical novels". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 13 May 2012.