A film adaptation of Vera Brittain's bestselling memoir of the First World War, Testament of Youth, is currently in development. A screenwriter has completed the second draft of the script and an actress, Saiorse Ronan, has been announced in the starring role. The producers of the film are BBC Films, and Heyday Films, makers of Harry Potter. A director will be announced soon and the film is likely to go into production, either in the autumn of this year, or the spring of 2013.
This book, published to coincide with the film's release, explores the effects of the First World War on Vera Brittain, both in terms of her personal life (she lost the four young men closest to her) and in terms of its effect on her development as a writer and her eventual decision to become a pacifist. Taking advantage of the interest generated by the film, it will bring her story to a new generation and incorporate the most up-to-date research. It will also include a short essay 'From Book to Film', describing the process of turning Testament of Youth into a major feature film. This include interviews with the production staff and actors, as well as with members of Vera Brittain's family, including Shirley Williams.
