The Crying Years includes a broad range of items from the Library's collections. They are united by text that concisely retells the story of Australia's Great War, year-by-year and them-by-theme, and that highlights some 28 individuals who exemplify aspects of the experiences. The Great War meant many things for Australians: triumph and disloyalty, idealism, pragmatism, opportunism, principle, creative endeavour, and many other aspects of humanity that emerge under the stress of extreme experience.