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“I had a Baby, I Mean I didn’t, in an Air Raid”: War and Stillbirth in H. D.'s Asphodel

ABSTRACT The protagonist of H. D.'s novel Asphodel, Hermione, struggles to find a means of self-representation in the aftermath of giving birth to a stillborn child; traditional languages appear inadequate for the expression of a non-normative identity, such as the mother-without-child. This essay argues that the dearth of an appropriate vocabulary available in which to discuss her experiences and feelings means that Hermione must appropriate other vocabularies and narratives through external identifications. She forges connections with the First World War soldier and the atrocity narratives of the sensationalist press in order to find a temporary paradigm for her trauma and grief. Looking at shell shock and at the Daily Mail's language in order to examine the nature and effect of these parallels as a means of self-expression, the essay demonstrates that, while they provide temporary solace, the fragility of these connections means they are unsustainable and need, ultimately, to be discarded in order for Hermione to move on from her loss.