Last Post

Summary

There are not many English novels which deserve to be called great: Parade's End is one of them. — W. H. Auden

Last Post is the fourth and final installment of Ford Madox Ford's Parade's End tetralogy, a work that Ford hoped would contribute to the obviating of all future wars. The story follows Christopher Tietjens, a wealthy British landowner and the last British Tory; his wife, Sylvia; and his mistress, Valentine Wannop. The final entry of Parade's End continues to depict the challenges of navigating a social and political landscape utterly upended by the Great War. Through the eyes of multiple characters, Last Post contextualizes or re-contextualizes the events of previous installments—particularly those surrounding Armistice Day.

Unique among other literary works depicting the Great War, the Parade's End tetralogy privileges not the conflict of World War I itself, but the impact the war had on its participants and upon society writ large. It is often referred to as one of the greatest 20th century novels, and one of the best depictions of war in literature. The 2012 television adaptation, written by Tom Stoppard and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall, was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and seven BAFTA Television Awards.