Introduction to 'Regeneration'

Pat Barker: Regeneration

In this course, we explore Pat Barker’s ‘Regeneration’. Set in 1917 in Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh, the novel follows psychiatrist William Rivers as he treats shell-shocked soldiers, including the poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. This course sees Professor John McRae (University of Nottingham) read through novel chapter-by-chapter, focusing on key moments and episodes in the novel, thinking about the wider themes and issues with which this rich, complex, and enjoyable novel is engaged.

Introduction to 'Regeneration'

In this module, we provide a brief introduction to the novel, picking up on some of the themes and issues that will be explored in greater detail in the later sections. In particular, we think about the context of the First World War, the figures of Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, and how concepts of heroism have changed from the earliest literature to the present day.