The remarkable personal reminiscences of a highly educated masterful writer, who entered service in the Austrian army at the beginning of the First World War.
He begins with a description of his country's transformation in mood, and stirring of patriotism. The enthusiasm and haste of all to defeat th

This book is only 35 pages, but has one of the best descriptions of war I’ve ever read. I would have gladly read 350 pages of this and was sad when it ended so quickly. Despite being less than an hour to read, it has two incredibly unique anecdotes that I think are two of the best war anecdotes I’ve

This brief book provides a glimpse into the World War I military service of one of the greatest concert violinists of all time. It is full of the glorification of war that was common in 1915 and is written in the formal, somewhat overwrought style of that period. As a historical document, however, i

I was instantly intrigued when I found this book while browsing LibraVox, but I was also a little reluctant. I really wanted to know what that famous violinist thought about fighting in such a brutal war. Would his talents be a hindrance or a help? But, I still was afraid it would be a rather flori

I respect this author as a musician and a person (I very much love his composition pieces for solo violin). That is why I chose to read this book.
It's inspiring, and it gives an intimate view of war from a thoughtful soul. It's hard to imagine living through the rough conditions Kreisler describes.

A first-hand account of the four weeks an Austrian Violinist spent in the trenches opposite the Russians during WW1.

A very short book. I liked the author's honesty as an artistic, sensitive person about his horror after one of their battles when he surveyed the field. He also tells of how his ear fo