As You Were is an anthology of American literature edited by Alexander Woolcott. It includes fiction, poetry and non-fiction essays. It was prepared by Viking Press for members of the Armed Forces and the Merchant Marine in 1943. My copy was presented to my father by my grandmother, his future mother-in-law, on his 21st birthday July 3, 1943. I have read it completely once and go back parts, especially the poetry often. I am always struck by Alan Seeger's I Have a Rendezvous with Death and Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight by Vachel Lindsay. ( )

An interesting selection by Alexander Woollcott of reading material for the Armed Forces during WWII. The selections range from lesser-known short stories by authors such as Hemingway, O. Henry and Bret Harte; poetry offerings from Longfellow, Whitman, Poe, etc.; and an American Fact category with The Declaration of Independence, A Letter Fom Franklin to Washington, The Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln, etc. At a time when many servicemen were feverishly passing around copies of Forever Amber, this is perhaps a selection that reveals much about what Mr. Woollcott felt the sevicemen should read rather than what he actually wanted to read. ( )