Goodbye to All That

This autobiographical work captures the author's life before leaving England, detailing his childhood, war experiences, and personal relationships, making Goodbye to All That a poignant reflection.

In 1929, the author made the decision to live abroad permanently, declaring he would 'never make England my home again.' This book, Goodbye to All That, chronicles his life leading up to that poignant farewell. It captures his childhood experiences, particularly his troubled school days at Charterhouse, and recounts his service as a young officer during the First World War, an experience that left an indelible mark on him for the rest of his life.

Goodbye to All That serves as an autobiographical narrative that vividly illustrates the profound changes in English society after the First World War. Robert Graves provides a unique perspective on the war's lasting impact, making this work an essential document of that era. The memoir includes memorable interactions with notable contemporaries, including fellow writers and poets like Siegfried Sassoon and Thomas Hardy, alongside reflections on his tumultuous marriage to Nancy Nicholson.

With its striking and sometimes harrowing depictions of the Western Front, Goodbye to All That is not only a significant war narrative but also stands out as one of the most honest self-portraits of an artist ever penned. Robert Ranke Graves, who lived from 1895 to 1985, is recognized for his contributions to literature, including the historical novel I, Claudius and the study of myth and poetry in The White Goddess. His autobiography quickly became a modern classic upon its release.