MAY SINCLAR ON THINGS "WORSE THAN WAR"(1920)

The challenges that Europe faced a century ago, after the Great War ended, were analysed and widely discussed by many contemporary intellectuals, including the English novelist, critic, and philosopher May Sinclair (1863–1946). This paper revisits her article “Worse than War” (1920), which is of a special interest today as it not only gives a vivid response of a woman writer to so-called unwomanly questions, but once again proves that unlearned history lessons tend to be repeated. Sinclair claims that the main evils Europe confronted after the five years of the war, which were “worse than war,” were epidemics, famine, and poverty. The writer gives an account of the situation in war-affected areas which she describes as catastrophic. She advocates lifting the blockade from Germany, which would save human lives and restore the political and economic balance in Europe. Also, she emphasizes that restoration and strengthening of depressed regions around Germany are especially vital to prevent them from further forcible acquisition by their powerful and hostile neighbour.