What are you reading (WWI related) and would you recommend it?

Just finished "Late in the Day" by Ernest Raymond - a superb and witty little story of one old soldier of 14-18 settling into retirement and re-visiting his old battlefield.

Thoroughly recommended.

Struggled with "England Their England" by A. G.. MacDonell - sort of similar tale of an ex-junior office, veteran of Ypres 1917 settling back into civilian life.

Interested to hear if any other members have read the above?

So, currently a little way into F.P. Crozier's "The Men I Killed" - rather a departure form his earlier "Brass Hat in No-Man's Land" but I'm only on page 48...

Can certainly recommend "Brass Hat..." though, a lot easier to find as well.

I'm now most of the way through 'Aristocracy and the Great War,' by Gerald Gliddon - and just starting to appreciate why so many grand houses have been bequeathed to the National Trust.....

Oh how I wish Gliddon had created an index, though....

Letters of Agar Adamson, a real gem which I notice has received glowing testimonials on another thread!

Michelle

The Journal of Private Fraser.
Very hard to put down.
Cheers
Dave

Farndale's history of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - the Forgotten Fronts. Superb.

Mametz Wood- Renshaw
IWM Western Front- Brown
Battlefield Tourism- Lloyd
Fields of Memory- Roze

The best?

Western Front for readability
Field of Memory for sheer visual power
Mametz Wood- I live in Wales and this is a concise account
Battlefield tourism- when I feel intellectual

Oh yes- her indoors does see me sometimes!

A good new biography of Foch, can't tell you author, it's at home, next if it gets here tomorrow The Paris Gun, N & M Press reprint of 1930 book, otherwise reread Ann Clayton's fine bio of Chavasse.

Re-reading Keegan's 'Face of Battle' again ... it's one of those books you can always go back to when you've got nothing new on the shelf!
The above in conjunction with Chris McCarthey's 'Somme Day by Day Account'. I bow to superior knowledge on this one but it seems very good for my purposes.
Also borrowed 'The Illustrated History of World War One' from library last week. Written by a US academic called Andy Wiest.
Nice enough book ... but make sure you use your library ticket. Very flick through. IMHO

Hello

Have just finished Voices of the Great War.

Don't normally like personal accounts but thoroughly enjoyed this one. Nice light reading. Ideal for the bus as I find opening large maps in the bus to be a bit awkward sometimes.

Dikke Bertha

Just finished a first rate book 'Paris 1919' by Margaret MacMillan. (recommend)

At the moment I'm reading 'The Great War As I Saw It' by Canon Frederick Scott. This is the third time I've read this book; there's something about the man that keeps me coming back. (recommend)

Next on the list is 'Friends of France: The Field Service of The American Ambulance described by its members' published in 1916. (I'll let you know )

Paul - Please let me know your thoughts on the Foch biography when you've finished. Thanks.

Garth

Have just finished reading 'The Man Who Disobeyed' by A J Smithers, about Smith-Dorrien. Very good read IMO and I will post a better review in due course.

Just started to read Tim Travers 'The Killing Ground', which is shaping up to be a good book sort i like in the sense that he quotes loads of references so I know where to go for info etc. Not saying that I agree with all said but certainly at the moment it has answered some questions I have been asking. Would recommend this book as it amkes you think....I think It has been recommended before on this site.


Regards
Arm.

Half way through MAGNIFICENT BUT NOT WAR The Second Battle Of Ypres 1915
by John Dixon.
Excellent easy to read informative book,would recommend.

Regards Doug

Currently 42nd Division history.

Absolutely fascinating account that I can wholeheartedly recommend with the usual proviso.............

...............First, have an interest in 42 Division.

John

Doug,

looked at this in the Pro shop the other day at £25 and picked it up a few times and the price made me put it down each time. I would be interested in the info content on General Snow and the Currie incident if it is mentioned to make me consider buying it at that sort of price, though i have a fascination for this particular battle anyway.

May have to be a present.


Arm.

Ps did you get the post of Coltman, sorry about the condition!!!!

Currently reading the History of The First World War by B H Liddell Hart, 1970 edition.
Quite by chance I hadn't read it up to now but it's been worth the wait so far.

Spike

Currently reading 'The Pity of War' by Niall Ferguson - impressed that he manages to make taxation and fiscal policy seem interesting

Just finished reading "The Unreturning Army" by Huntley Gordon.

It is superb if interested in the R.F.A.

I am trying to finish "Warrior" by Lord Mottistone, but am finding it more of a trial.

Tim

I agree this one IS a gem. (I have a first edition signed by Scott)


Finished reading 'WIPERS' by Tim Carew.

This is about the 1st Ypres, and a fantastic book, from cover to cover!
(Tim also wrote the book 'The Vanished Army' about the 'old contemptible army' in 1914-another hit! if you can find it)

The Kaisers Battle by Martin Middlebrook.............

(and it's a damn site more interesting than "Fiscal framework for social inclusion and health within local government 2004-5" which is what I am supposed to reading!)

'They call it Passchedaele' by Lyn MacDonald.
Highly recommended. A grim tale of a very grim battle!
Dave.

Matt

Ahhh. Happy days (not).

That sort of document sits at No. 7 on my list of things I don't miss, since retiring from the public sector.

John

Just started to read "Forgotten Voices" by Max Arthur.i know from lot's of previous postings many of you have red this.it's good so far.

i was in WH Smiths today and bought "The Road to Verdun" by Ian Ousby,to read when i've red Forgotten Voices.

Steven

am now reading "women and the first world war" by susan r grayzel. looks to be o.k so far will let you know when i finish it. it has some interesting points on how westen goverments used womens "views" as a basis for recuitment campaigns.

amanda xx

Currently I am reading " De Stilte van de Salient " written by Johan Meire. I wonder if this book is edited in English.

Gilbert Deraedt

Just finished (in 3 days) " The Hood Battalion" Royal Naval Division: Antwerp,
Gallipoli, France 1914-1918. by Leonard Sellers.

ISBN 0-85052-386-9

A great book I just couldn't put down.

Well recommended

Tony.

Hello.

Just read "It's only me" by David Raw.

A very good book about a very brave man.

I think I've found a new hero..The Reverend Theodore Bayley Hardy. VC. DSO. MC

Also 'Tickled to death to go'.
By Richard Van Emden.

A fine book dealing with the memoirs of a Dragoon guardsman, from the outset of the war.

and I'm currently reading 'Cannon fodder' by A Stuart Dolden.

Cheers
Ian

Just got out of the library

"Passchendaele" The Sacrificial Ground
by Nigel Steel and Peter Hart

and

"The Road to Verdun"
by Ian Ousby looking forward to reading this one as I've only read Empire forces
books to date.

These should last me a bit, the only thing I find when I start these books I tend
to get right into them and I finish them rather quickly, then I have to scour
the local libraries and cheap book shops to get a fix ( have I got a problem?).

Can't stay here as I need to start reading as I'm get withdrawal symptoms.

Tony

“Glory is No Compensation: The Border Regiment at Gallipoli” by Ralph May (with Stuart Eastwood & Clive Elderton) (Silver Link Publishing, Kettering) 320pp, Illus, Maps. £19.95 (ISBN 1 85794 214 0)

Reviewing it for the National Army Museum. Astonishingly good use of regimental archives and records (then again, Col May was the first curator of the King's Own Royal Border Regt Museum..). Half the book is a nominal roll (officers and soldiers) of the 1st and 6th (Service) Bns; a complete Roll of Honour and Decorations.

If you're interested in Gallipoli, buy it. If you're interested in the Border Regiment, walk over broken glass to buy it - an essential purchase. It is so well produced that the asking price is a complete and utter steal. (In crude terms, that's the review distilled!)

My only cavil... if Fred Fenackerpan had tried to write such a book, would the museum have been so forthcoming? So many examples of disinterested regimental museums with private researchers....

Phil,

Someone told me there is a good review of this volume in the book review section ...

Martin

Tony..........Just finished this book............not great if you are looking for a potted history of what happened where on the battlefield...........but excellent if you want to get into the psyche of the French & understand why Verdun was (& perhaps still is) so important to them.

I would agree. The book was a bit different than I expected. Not bad, but as Will indicates it was more intellectual than fact based. Very interesting read though.

By not factual I mean to say that it deals more with larger ideas and concepts rather than names, dates, and places.

1915 Lyn MacDonald.

First time reading a book with so many personal accounts as opposed to rather dry facts and figures.

I'm disappointed that there is no mention of Salonika though.

The Enemy's House Divided...... This is a book about the collapse of Imperial Germany in 1918. Since I have just started a couple of the most interesting things about the book are that it was orignally written by Charles de Gaulle in 1924, and the modern translator has dedicated the book to the policemen and fire fighters who died on 9/11.

Oh, also the introduction is 50 pages. Most interesting since the book is about 130 pages total.

I am currently reading THE MYRIAD FACES OF WAR by Trevor Wilson, 864 pages in the paperback edition (Polity Press and Basil Blackwell Inc). This is one of my top three general surveys. It is a mastely book, combining what happened to the British army and navy with news from the homefront and also has fragments from diaries and letters.

It is so good because the author asks many questions: 'Yes, they did this, but what could they have done? What were the alternatives for the politicians, the generals, the admirals etc."

Am also reading THE SOMME BATTLEFIELDS by Martin Middlebrook. It has that rarity : excellent maps! Lots of information on where to go and what to look for.

Fred

Will and andigger

Thanks for the forewarning on 'road to verdun' I,m half way through it and at
first it was hard going, but as I got further into it the easier and more interesting it has become.

Cheers

Tony

Just finished 'War Underground The Tunnellers Of The Great War' by Alexander Barrie, a very interesting account of a special breed of people.
In the early stages of 'Passchendaele' by Nigel Steel and Peter Hart, to be followed by 'Pillars Of Fire' The Battle Of Messines Ridge by Ian Passingham.

Jim

Both good reads, Jim. The anecdotes about Passchendaele make for tough reading, as you might expect. I liked the additional material about the gunners, who played such a key role in enabling the advances that did take place.

I am reading an excellent book, based on letters from Canadian Soldiers,
The Book of War Letters by Paul Grescoe (Author), Audrey Grescoe (Author). It covers letters from all the war that involved the Canadians including British immigrants that signed up in Canada, sometimes, funny, sometimes heartfelt, but always touching. Before each letter the author discribes breifly the battle the soldier was involved in, and after the letter what the soldiers fate was.
Highly recommended and available on www.amazon.com.

Just finished 'Soldiers' - By Philip Ziegler.
First man profiled is Bombardier Albert Alexandre - fought at Ypres with Channel Islands unit in 1918 when a 15-year-old.
Book is based on experiences of soldering by Chelsea pensioners. I loved it.

Hull Pals by David Bilton - A very good source of info on the Hull Pals.

World War 1 in Colour, Charles messenger - Nice pics

Gallipoli by L A Carlyon - Havent really read much, but a beefy book

I'm finishing a history of the Flanders MarineKorps and starting Massie's "Dreadnought." A surprising variety of friends & colleagues either has read or is reading the follow-on, "Castles of Steel."

Pilot..... I am interested to know your opinion of Dreadnought and what your friends think of Castles. I spoke with someone yesterday who couldn't say enough good things about both books, especially Castles. I find naval history hard to follow, sorry I am more of a land lubber, but some have suggested I would enjoy both books.

my little one and i are reading THE FRIGHTFUL FIRST WORLDWAR by terry deary. part of the horrible histories series it is full of interesting facts and some amusing tales as well as a brief time line. it does not negliget to inform of the horrors of war, yet presents them in a way that will hold a childs interest.

aimed at chilren of about ten( an age where they can begin to understand), i would recommend you get this one for your childen/grand childen as essential reading. it is never too early to learn that so many died to put us where we are today.

amanda xx

I have just bought ' Goodbye to all that' but have not yet started it. Can't wait.

Anyone else read it?

Having finished "General Jack's Diary 1914-1918" by Brig.Gen.James L. Jack, who began the war with the 1st Cameronians, I today started the first of Pat Barker's trilogy "Regeneration". A hundred pages in and I am hooked.

Just started on Ross Anderson's "The Forgotten Front - The East African Campaign 1914-1918".

At long last there is something to cover this much neglected arena of conflict. I hope it's worth the wait.

Burlington... Good Bye to All That is a great book. What is very interesting is that although the book is Robert Graves personal history of the war, he did embellish the events. I had to read the book in college and my professor was able to disect many of the areas where Graves added to the story in an effort to sell more books. Unfortuantely I only have my memory from the class and notes to look back on, but I was wondering if there were any Pals out there who knew of a professional critique of the book that might elaborate.

Andy

Here are some books worth reading and then reading again:

"Paris 1919" by Margaret MacMillan is very well written with a great deal of information packed into it.

"The Journal of Private Fraser" gives one an understanding of the common CEF soldier.

"When Your Numbers Up" by Desmond Morton is another good book for CEF/BEF readers

"No Where to Run" by Tim Cook carefully documents the use of poison gas [esp CEF]

"Passchendaele - The Sacrificial Ground" has moving first-person accounts of the entire battle.



Perhaps the worst book is "The Myth of the Great War" by John Mosier. [How USA won the war type]

I have just finished "FOUR YEARS ON THE WESTERN FRONT" by a Rifleman (aka Aubrey Smith) - a reprint of 1999 - quite a thick volume, but fascinating from the first to the last page. Great stuff to read -though of course a bit biased (anti-German), which is quite understandable just after the war.
Daniel