1916. The Somme. With over a million casualties, it was the most brutal battle of the First World War. It is a clash that even now, over 90 years later, remains seared into the national consciousness, conjuring up images of muddy trenches and young lives tragically wasted. Its first day, July 1st 1916 - on which the British suffered 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 dead - is the bloodiest day in the history of the British armed forces to date. On the German side, an officer famously described it as 'the muddy grave of the German field army'. By the end of the battle, the British had learned many lessons in modern warfare while the Germans had suffered irreplaceable losses, ultimately laying the foundations for the Allies' final victory on the Western Front. Drawing on a wealth of material from the vast Imperial War Museum Sound Archive, Forgotten Voices of the Somme presents an intimate, poignant, sometimes even bleakly funny insight into life on the front line: from the day-to-day struggle of extraordinary circumstances to the white heat of battle and the constant threat of injury or death. Featuring contributions from soldiers of differing backgrounds, ranks and roles, many of them previously unpublished, this is the definitive oral history of this unique and terrible conflict.
Forgotten Voices of the Somme
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
Joshua Levine is an experienced oral historian and author of Forgotten Voices of the Blitz and the Battle for Britain and On a Wing and a Prayer. He has also had plays performed on the London stage and on Radio 4, as well as scripting a television documentary about 18th century London for BBC2.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
The definitive oral history of the most infamous and bloody conflict of the Great War
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By J. Cooper
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
There are many books out there that contain soldier's recollections of the First World War, so why read this one? What sets it apart from the rest?
Firstly, as suggested in the title, the book focuses solely on the battles that took place on the Somme. Whereas other `recollective' style First World War books tend to focus on the entire war, this book gives a comprehensive account of soldier's experiences that fought solely on this particularly brutal front.
Secondly, I found that this book made me laugh at several points when soldiers recounted comical experiences and situations. Some books structured in this manner don't always contain humorous entries and whilst interesting, are often depressing reads. The author has cleverly selected and balanced the entries which he has included in this book, resulting in an end product which highlights the futility of the offensive, but also shows the soldiers in all their glory as human beings - flawed and vulnerable.
I really enjoyed this book, it certainly manages to convey the human aspect of trench warfare and it has the ability to stir powerful emotions as you progress through it. This book does not contain multiple maps or endless technical detail surrounding `which battalion engaged the enemy on which date' etc. It is a lasting testimony and valuable record of the experiences of many normal, frightened but ultimately brave men who fought in these dreadful battles.
Recommended to anyone with an interest in the First World War and trench warfare.
Firstly, as suggested in the title, the book focuses solely on the battles that took place on the Somme. Whereas other `recollective' style First World War books tend to focus on the entire war, this book gives a comprehensive account of soldier's experiences that fought solely on this particularly brutal front.
Secondly, I found that this book made me laugh at several points when soldiers recounted comical experiences and situations. Some books structured in this manner don't always contain humorous entries and whilst interesting, are often depressing reads. The author has cleverly selected and balanced the entries which he has included in this book, resulting in an end product which highlights the futility of the offensive, but also shows the soldiers in all their glory as human beings - flawed and vulnerable.
I really enjoyed this book, it certainly manages to convey the human aspect of trench warfare and it has the ability to stir powerful emotions as you progress through it. This book does not contain multiple maps or endless technical detail surrounding `which battalion engaged the enemy on which date' etc. It is a lasting testimony and valuable record of the experiences of many normal, frightened but ultimately brave men who fought in these dreadful battles.
Recommended to anyone with an interest in the First World War and trench warfare.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read much of the writings of the Great War, some good and some bad, but there is a special quality in the memories who were there and experienced the horrors and the companionship of the trenches. I read the book upon returning from a further visit to the Western Front, always a moving experience for me, and these memories of ordinary men who survived extraordinary times threw a vivid light on the places seen and the times I had tried to visualise on the ground,
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By David
Format:Hardcover
This is a brilliant book.I have always been interested in the First World War and this book gives you a real insight to those who lived day to day in the trenches of the Somme.You can never know what it was like unless you were there but you can get a feeling of it from this excellent book.
I think people of all ages will get something from this book.It's about everyday bravery in terrifying conditions and not about those who got medals.All I can say is read it.
I think people of all ages will get something from this book.It's about everyday bravery in terrifying conditions and not about those who got medals.All I can say is read it.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
5.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Book
This is a must-read for fans of military history. Gives a proper "inside view", from both sides, of what the hell of the Somme was like for the poor buggers fighting in the... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Iain Hawkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forgotten Voices of the Somme: The Most Devastating Battle of the
My husband found this book very interesting. It makes you realise the difficult times 'our boys' had and went through with so much loss of life
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. C. N. G. Willis
4.0 out of 5 stars
Forgotten Voices of the Somme: The Most Devastating Battle of the......
This is the sort of book that my husband likes, one that he can dip into when he has the time. He seems to be enjoying it, if enjoy is the right word.
Published 3 months ago by Eveta Hubbardibus
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gramps
My grandfather was a medic on the Somme and a lot of things that happen to him were mentioned in this book . It made me think of my cramps .
Published 3 months ago by paul coleman
5.0 out of 5 stars
sad
After my partner and i recently went to france and visited some of the main sites in the battle of the somme we had to read this book and found it very interesting and veary true... Read more
Published 4 months ago by carole magnor
4.0 out of 5 stars
Forgotten voices of the Somme
This book was a present for our friend who is a composer,and is interested in this genre. He really enjoyed reading it.
Published 8 months ago by Claire Voyant
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another top rate book in the collection
I have read and own most of the forgotten voices books and even the CD's and again I cannot fault any part of them. Read more
Published 16 months ago by El Loco Lobo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasic
I read a lot of the forgotten voices books and have got my boyfriends dad into them! It makes present buying a lot easier!
Published 16 months ago by Sally Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book
Great book about the Great War and it is very humbling for me to read what people of an older generation went through without complaint.Facinating read
Published 18 months ago by Mr. Paul D. Greenwood
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating
I bought this as we were visiting the Somme on holiday in France and I read it just before we went. It put a lot of what we saw into perspective and made the visits to places like... Read more
Published 19 months ago by tim
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
