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"'Astonishing ... made my heart sigh' Independent 'An extraordinary set of panoramic photographs that reveal the battlefields of the Western Front as never before.' The Times 'Hauntingly magnificent' Navy News 'His works are widely regarded as milestones in the gaining of a balanced understanding of the First World War.' Soldier magazine"
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This title features unseen panoramas of the most dangerous battle of the First World War. In spring 1917, Allied troops on the Western Front began the largest ever artillery barrage on German positions, using over 2.7 million shells. During the battle they succeeded in capturing the famous Vimy Ridge. But the ultimate cost of fighting was immense, with a daily casualty rate 40 per cent greater than the Somme and almost double that of Passchendaele - making it hour for hour the most dangerous major campaign of the First World War. In this major new account of the conflict, Peter Barton showcases over 50 re-discovered British and German panoramic photographs of the battlegrounds, from the start of the first Battle of the Scarpe to the final push on Vimy Ridge. Taken at huge personal risk by specialist photographers, they reveal what no other photographs can - the view beyond the trench parapet - and a view not seen for over 90 years. Also included are unpublished testimony, letters and memoirs from the different serving regiments, sourced from archives across the UK, Canada, Germany and elsewhere; and stunning mapping, plans and diagrams throughout. It is brought in association with the Imperial War Museum. Praise for Peter Barton's previus works: 'Astonishing ... made my heart sigh' Independent. 'An extraordinary set of panoramic photographs that reveal the battlefields of the Western Front as never before.' The Times. 'Hauntingly magnificent' Navy News. 'His works are widely regarded as milestones in the gaining of a balanced understanding of the First World War.' Soldier magazine.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When this book was published, I already had Peter Barton's other panorama-based WWI battlefield works, all produced in collaboration with the IWM ('Battlefields of the First World War', 'the Somme' and 'Passchendaele'). All have greatly impressed me, not only because of the quality of writing and research but through the rich and helpful illustration (superb maps, diagrams, photographs etc., as well as the panoramas themselves). Also worthy of mention are what seems to me to be an ideal landscape format; the solid, weighty feel of each book; and the sheer quality of the publication. Electronic books have their place but this series proves, at least to me, that a 'real' book has a pleasure and satisfaction all its own. I had not expected that coverage of the infamously 'forgotten' battle of Arras would follow the first three, despite its horrendous butcher's bill - worse even than those of the Somme or Third Ypres (Passchendaele). So I was especially delighted when 'Arras' hit the shelves (or, in my case, Amazon's post room). On the strength of the first three books, I ordered it sight unseen - partly because of a particular family interest in the battle and partly because of entirely separate research for a written war memorial. My pleasure, and my confidence in the quality of Peter Barton's work, have been entirely justified. The opportunity to take this book (along with, in my case, Paul Reed's 'Walking Arras') to the area of the battle made a visit vastly more productive. Thus, the ability to refer to Barton's greater detail in the car or hotel room, in support of the pocket-sized battlefield guide, made a better understanding of the complexities of a massively important battle far more accessible - along with some slight appreciation of the courage and sacrifice that it generated. I recommend an excellent piece of work - and the rest of the set to which it belongs. They will remain close to hand by my desk.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is a quite remarkable piece of work. Not only is in the best in-depth study around of this slightly less well known Great War battle - the Battle of Arras - but the shear quality of the images and the variety of the testimony is outstanding. This is the third on their books and Barton and Banning have never failed to deliver top-notch work. However, this one has to be the best of them all. The detailed maps will guide the reader through the various stages of the battle, and for the seasoned battlefield visitor this book will become an Indispensable asset in France. Really well done.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having previously purchased the three previous volumes of panorama campaigns I was thrilled to see that another volume was forthcoming and this one on Arras. Passchendaele, and the Somme were both magisterial works, while the panoramas of the western front incorporated some of the finest photography of the western front i had ever seen. Therefore when the much less known Battle of Arras was published i was thrilled to see it indeed, and snatched one up when it became available immediately.
I was not disappointed. This volume fills a gap in one of the truly horrific battles of the Great War. There were very few previous volumes written about the spring 1917 campaign and this fine work has completely redressed this situation. Although some previous works have been written about Vimy Ridge and the tremendous triumph of the Canadian Corps, or from the Australian perspective of the brutal battles of Bullecourt, the only previous work to discuss the entire campaign as a whole was Jonathan Phillips "Cheerful Sacrifice" Although his work was well done, Mr. Barton's and Mr. Banning's work IS the definitive general history of this campaign. Although little heard of, certainly outside of England, this 40 day battle produced casualty figures 25 percent higher then that on the Somme and nearly double those of Passchendaele on a day to day basis. The battles here are covered in detail, the triumph initially at Vimy, the indecision and inaction which followed, the blunders of leadership and lost opportunities, the degeneration into bloody stalemate, the few meager gains, stiffening German resistance, and the daunting Hindenburg Line. The eventual cessation of the campaign after bloody losses and shattered gains of ground, and all in support of the French Nivelle offensive which in itself was a catastrophe for French arms and should never have been undertaken. All this, more or less, as a sacrifice to an ally, in France, whose own offensive never stood a chance. And all the while as Sir Douglas Haig had his real eyes on Flanders and the North Sea ports. In the end it is the tragic suffering of the men themselves, the brutality of the fighting, the heroic efforts of support and medical men to do the best they could for their comrades, this is the enduring strength of this book. All for a campaign viewed as only a diversion. A diversion which cost 160,000 British and Commonwealth casualties, and was then shunted aside for another go at Ypres. But it was, in its own right a brutal savage battle indeed and it deserved this quality of a book written about it, largely forgotten tho it may be. A fine job by Mr. Barton and Mr. Banning in retelling this fascinating, brutal, and tragic tale. And fine work in emphasizing the sacrifice and triumph of the human spirit by the men involved. Keep up the good work!
I was not disappointed. This volume fills a gap in one of the truly horrific battles of the Great War. There were very few previous volumes written about the spring 1917 campaign and this fine work has completely redressed this situation. Although some previous works have been written about Vimy Ridge and the tremendous triumph of the Canadian Corps, or from the Australian perspective of the brutal battles of Bullecourt, the only previous work to discuss the entire campaign as a whole was Jonathan Phillips "Cheerful Sacrifice" Although his work was well done, Mr. Barton's and Mr. Banning's work IS the definitive general history of this campaign. Although little heard of, certainly outside of England, this 40 day battle produced casualty figures 25 percent higher then that on the Somme and nearly double those of Passchendaele on a day to day basis. The battles here are covered in detail, the triumph initially at Vimy, the indecision and inaction which followed, the blunders of leadership and lost opportunities, the degeneration into bloody stalemate, the few meager gains, stiffening German resistance, and the daunting Hindenburg Line. The eventual cessation of the campaign after bloody losses and shattered gains of ground, and all in support of the French Nivelle offensive which in itself was a catastrophe for French arms and should never have been undertaken. All this, more or less, as a sacrifice to an ally, in France, whose own offensive never stood a chance. And all the while as Sir Douglas Haig had his real eyes on Flanders and the North Sea ports. In the end it is the tragic suffering of the men themselves, the brutality of the fighting, the heroic efforts of support and medical men to do the best they could for their comrades, this is the enduring strength of this book. All for a campaign viewed as only a diversion. A diversion which cost 160,000 British and Commonwealth casualties, and was then shunted aside for another go at Ypres. But it was, in its own right a brutal savage battle indeed and it deserved this quality of a book written about it, largely forgotten tho it may be. A fine job by Mr. Barton and Mr. Banning in retelling this fascinating, brutal, and tragic tale. And fine work in emphasizing the sacrifice and triumph of the human spirit by the men involved. Keep up the good work!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Arras
This was a present for my husband, he suggested it as a Christmas present. As he is in to military history the book must be good
Published 17 months ago by Bizzle
Completing the set
Just bought this book, to go alongside the two similar Peter Barton books on the Somme and Passchedaele that I already own. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Tom S
Arras, covered as never before.
I very rarely feel the urge to write reviews for the books I read, I normally leave it for others to articulate their views, but however this new work by Peter Barton and Jeremy... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Prudence
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