Soldier's Heart by Mari Eckstein Gower

My father, like many who fought in World War II, suffered from nightmares triggered by his experiences. For his generation, this wasn't something one spoke about, as if his responses were a weakness or shameful. I'm thankful that today the effects of trauma are being studied and treated, and that we're beginning to understand that PTSD is not only a social issue but political as well. In my book, Soldier's Heart, I explore the subject of PTSD, looking to historical portrayals of the effects of warfare and the ways PTSD has been described in the past. The book design is inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, which is packed with surprising descriptive details. I've also referenced Egyptian, Assyrian, Mayan and Celtic artifacts.