Description

Book Synopsis

2016 is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

''There was hardly a household in the land'', writes Lyn Macdonald, ''there was no trade, occupation, profession or community, which was not represented in the thousands of innocent enthusiasts who made up the ranks of Kitchener''s Army before the Battle of the Somme...''

The year 1916 was one of the great turning-points in British history: as the youthful hopes of a generation were crushed in a desperate struggle to survive, and traditional attitudes to authority were destroyed for ever. On paper, few battles have ever been so meticulously planned. Yet while there were good political reasons to launch a joint offensive with a French Army demoralized by huge casualties at Verdun, the raw troops on the ground knew nothing of that. A hundred and fifty thousand were killed in the punishing shellfire, the endless ordeal of attack and counter-attack; twice that number were left maimed or wounded. Here, a

Trade Review
Somme expresses the full range of meaning of the word 'grim'...I doubt if there are any better than this -- John Terraine * Daily Telegraph *
A worthy addition to the literature of the Great War * Daily Mail *

Somme

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    A Paperback / softback by Lyn Macdonald

    £11.69

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      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
      Published 26 September 2013
      ISBN-13 9780241952382
      978-0241952382
      ISBN-10 0241952387
      Also in:
      European history European history: medieval period, middle ages Military History Specific battles

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      2016 is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

      ''There was hardly a household in the land'', writes Lyn Macdonald, ''there was no trade, occupation, profession or community, which was not represented in the thousands of innocent enthusiasts who made up the ranks of Kitchener''s Army before the Battle of the Somme...''

      The year 1916 was one of the great turning-points in British history: as the youthful hopes of a generation were crushed in a desperate struggle to survive, and traditional attitudes to authority were destroyed for ever. On paper, few battles have ever been so meticulously planned. Yet while there were good political reasons to launch a joint offensive with a French Army demoralized by huge casualties at Verdun, the raw troops on the ground knew nothing of that. A hundred and fifty thousand were killed in the punishing shellfire, the endless ordeal of attack and counter-attack; twice that number were left maimed or wounded. Here, a

      Trade Review
      Somme expresses the full range of meaning of the word 'grim'...I doubt if there are any better than this -- John Terraine * Daily Telegraph *
      A worthy addition to the literature of the Great War * Daily Mail *

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