Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search

History General

Mothers of Heroes, Mothers of Martyrs

World War I and the Politics of Grief

by (author) Suzanne Evans

Publisher
McGill-Queen's University Press
Initial publish date
Feb 2007
Category
General
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780773531888
    Publish Date
    Feb 2007
    List Price
    $40.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780773577978
    Publish Date
    Feb 2007
    List Price
    $34.95

Add it to your shelf

Where to buy it

Description

Suzanne Evans finds commonalities between the many images of war mothers - the Canadian Silver Cross mother, the ancient Jewish Maccabean mother of seven martyred sons, the mother of a Palestinian suicide bomber. She compares the lore about mothers of martyrs in the Judeo-Christian, Muslim, and Sikh traditions with stories of World War I Canadian mothers who were depicted in the media as having sacrificed their sons for the sake of civilization, justice, freedom, and God. After the war these mothers were honoured with the Silver Cross medal. Evans argues that, like the mothers of past martyrs, the image of the war-supportive mother in Canada had a powerful influence over public opinion and drew supporters to the cause.

About the author

Dr. Suzanne Evans holds a PhD in Religious Studies. After working, studying, and living in China, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam, she now lives and writes in Ottawa. She is the author of Mothers of Heroes, Mothers of Martyrs: World War I and the Politics of Grief. Her writing, which has appeared in academic and literary journals, newspapers, magazines, and books, has a strong focus on women and war.

Suzanne Evans' profile page

Other titles by