In "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania," Erik Larson explores the shift in the understanding of warfare as experienced by individuals during World War I. Morton reflects on how he and his brother, rooted in Victorian ideals, failed to recognize the profound changes in the nature and methodology of war that began in August 1914. They clung to notions of war that did not account for its expanding impact on society.

This oversight highlights a critical transformation in which the boundaries of war blurred, involving not just soldiers but also civilians, including women and children. The conflict signified a new era where the devastation of war could no longer be confined to traditional battlefields, reflecting a broader human consequence that would persist in future conflicts.