FORGOTTEN VOICES OF THE GREAT WAR was the surprise best-seller at Christmas 2002, selling over 60,000 copies in hardback alone. The formula was simple: Max Arthur interviewed some of the 30 surviving British soldiers from the First World War and combined their stories with other interviews in the Imperial War Museum and various private collections. LAST POST is very consciously the last word from the handful of survivors left alive in 2004. When they die, our final human connection with the First World War will be broken: after this book, we will have only recordings or diaries. We will never be able to ask a question of someone who was there.
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'this remarkably poignant book.' (James Holland THE MAIL ON SUNDAY )
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The 'Forgotten Voices' of the First World War speak for the final time
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Ally
Format:Paperback
What a marvellous, emotional read. Wonderfully put together by the author using his formula that works, of allowing these men to tell their story and memories in their own words.
It features the last 21 men, of which I think there is only one alive now, recalling not only the war but their lives. Therefore it is not only a historical tome, but a social commentary as well. We have some men recalling the Titanic being sunk. One chap even recalls watching Newton Heath playing football, before they became Manchester United!
In relation to the war, a recurring theme is that it is not recalled fondly or romatically as some authors, historians and broadcasters try to do on occasions. It is recalled with pride of what they had to do at that time, but tempered with the realism of the horror and waste of it all, to the men, their families and communities and a whole generation and also to the economy and infrastructure of the countries including lost shipping and live stock, as all the stories point out their was hardly any mechanised transport at that time other than staff cars!
A lovely read and I highly recommend it but it is a shame that nearly 100 years on from the war to end all wars we have British servicemen being killed in futile conflicts overseas.
It features the last 21 men, of which I think there is only one alive now, recalling not only the war but their lives. Therefore it is not only a historical tome, but a social commentary as well. We have some men recalling the Titanic being sunk. One chap even recalls watching Newton Heath playing football, before they became Manchester United!
In relation to the war, a recurring theme is that it is not recalled fondly or romatically as some authors, historians and broadcasters try to do on occasions. It is recalled with pride of what they had to do at that time, but tempered with the realism of the horror and waste of it all, to the men, their families and communities and a whole generation and also to the economy and infrastructure of the countries including lost shipping and live stock, as all the stories point out their was hardly any mechanised transport at that time other than staff cars!
A lovely read and I highly recommend it but it is a shame that nearly 100 years on from the war to end all wars we have British servicemen being killed in futile conflicts overseas.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Bungy
Format:Paperback
I echo the comments from the previous reviewer. This is a great read, and it's all their own words. The author has resisted the temptation to interperet or add to, or explain their words.
Not only do the men talk about the war, but they talk about their lives too. And for me that was equally as interesting because I've been tracing my family tree, and it gives you a small insite into the everyday lives of ordinary people at the turn of the last century.
It really is quite amazing how long these men have lived, and the thing that brought it home for me was the fact that some of them had outlived their own children!
Not only do the men talk about the war, but they talk about their lives too. And for me that was equally as interesting because I've been tracing my family tree, and it gives you a small insite into the everyday lives of ordinary people at the turn of the last century.
It really is quite amazing how long these men have lived, and the thing that brought it home for me was the fact that some of them had outlived their own children!
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This beautiful, vivid and poignant book deserves a wide audience and should be force-fed to every hoody wearing ASBO collecting yob. In their own words, 21 WWI veterans describe their experience of the great war.
This is not a book about facts, dates and statistics. It is macro social history of the uppermost important at the mirco level. It's about real people, normal in almost everyway, who gave so much. It was a humbling read.
Max Arthur through the words of 21 hero's (most now dead) provides a fitting testament to those lost during 1914-1918.
It also highlights what happened after the war, how life continued forever changed.
Reading this book, one is sad not because so many young men died, that is true (Lord Denning said Britain lost its finest men during the war) but because we have forgotten so much about what is important, about being good citizens, about duty, honour and friendship. It is not good enough to mock "not like the old days".
Read the book and decide for yourself.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
good to have
an amazing generation, they are slipping into history but through books such as this we get n insight, through them as to what it as really like for them.
Published 3 months ago by Mr Nigel T H Roche
5.0 out of 5 stars
great!
Really great book for really great value!! Bought as one of the people interviewed is a great uncle of mine! :)
Published 6 months ago by kirstyj
5.0 out of 5 stars
our forefather's fought to keep our country free
If you are interested in history,this is one book I can recommend. Each of our first world war survivers recount their memories,sometimes in graphic detail. Read more
Published 20 months ago by peter
5.0 out of 5 stars
old soldiers
It is a good thing that this book was written when it was -any later and there would have been nothing to write about. Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by G. I. Forbes
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best oral history of WWI
With the passing of the last two veterans of the Great War, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch, I wanted to learn more about their lives and so I bought Last Post which I found... Read more
Published on 29 July 2009 by Devonboy
5.0 out of 5 stars
'Great Stories' from the Men from the 'Great War'
Bought this book after going on a coach trip to visit the The Somme. Having seen the places and felt the atmosphere of the battlefields it was awe inspiring to read the stories of... Read more
Published on 9 July 2008 by P. Monks
5.0 out of 5 stars
A foot in the door to military history
It would be easy to beleive that in order to enjoy this book you have to have more than a passing interest in the military or the first world war. You don't. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2008 by S. E. Day
5.0 out of 5 stars
where there's blame there's a claim?
For the first time ever this year i bought a poppy.
that's because i read this book and "forgoten voices of the great war"by the same author. Read more
that's because i read this book and "forgoten voices of the great war"by the same author. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2007 by Mrs. D. L. Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superbly touching
As an amateur student of military history, this book was always going to be picked up by my interest-radar, and I'm so glad it was. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2007 by Man Of Kent
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very moving read
It is absolutely amazing that there are still, in 2005, any veterans at all of the First World War. I love the fact that the author, realising that the last few would soon be gone,... Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2005
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