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Somme
Martin Gilbert
€ 16.99
€ 13.44
FREE Delivery in Ireland
Description for Somme
Paperback. The definitive story of the First World War's bloodiest conflict Num Pages: 352 pages, 24pp plus maps. BIC Classification: HBJD; HBWN; JWLF. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 196 x 130 x 24. Weight in Grams: 274.
The Battle of the Somme, fought between July and November 1916, was among the bloodiest conflicts of all time. The aim was to end the stalemate on the Western Front - the result was carnage. In a total of just over a hundred days of fighting, the death toll reached 310,459. Half the bodies were never recovered. At the close of the battle, the British and French forces had not even reached the line they set themselves for the first day. Yet, despite its horrific destruction, the fighting at the Somme was characterised by incredible individual bravery. In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the battle, Martin Gilbert, one of Britain's most distinguished historians, graphically recreates the tragedy. He interweaves individual stories, wartime documents, letters and poetry in a deeply moving, succinct narrative. From gripping descriptions of struggles on the battlefield to poignant evocations of the memorials and cemeteries that stand there today, this is a definitive guide to the Somme. It is a story of unparalleled folly and heroism, from which, as it unfolds, there emerge deep implications that are shared by all wars.
Product Details
Publisher
John Murray General Publishing Division United Kingdom
Number of pages
384
Format
Paperback
Publication date
2007
Condition
New
Weight
263g
Number of Pages
352
Place of Publication
London, United Kingdom
ISBN
9780719568909
SKU
V9780719568909
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 5 to 9 working days
Ref
99-10
About Martin Gilbert
Martin Gilbert was the Official Biographer of Sir Winston Churchill; his prolific output on this stubect included the one-volume biography, Churchill: A Life. Among his other books are: First World War, Second World War, D-Day and The Day the War Ended, as well as a magisterial three-volume History of the Twentieth Century, and twelve historical atlases. Martin Gilbert was knighted in 1995. Two years later he was awarded a Doctorate of Literature at Oxford University for the totality of his historical work. He died in 2015.
Reviews for Somme
'Martin Gilbert is an exceptionally gifted historian with the zest to ferret out all kinds of source materials and the skill to analyse and to interpret them cogently and convincingly'
Asa Briggs, Guardian
'Lucid, comprehensive and authoritative'
Philip Zeigler, Daily Telegraph
'An immensely readable epitome of one of the most complex events in history'
Paul Johnson, Evening Standard
'A masterly panorama ... Gilbert never forgets - and never allows his readers to forget - that the embattled armies were composed of millions of individuals, that it is the human experience and the human cost that matters'
Lyn MacDonald, Sunday Times
'In his transmission of the horror of the war, Martin Gilbert has achieved something probably no historian but he could'
John Keegan, The Sunday Times
Praise for Martin Gilbert:
.
'Admirably comprehensive'
Literary Review
'A superb book that works not only as history but as a guide for visitors to the battlefield today. Amongst the slew of new titles we can expect commemorating the battle, this stands unrivalled'
Good Book Guide
'Tireless ... a day-by-day account of the fight, triumph and tragedy hand in hand'
Spectator
'Powerful'
BBC History magazine
'[A] characteristically workmanlike book.'
Daily Telegraph
'A brilliant evocation of the battle'
The Times
Asa Briggs, Guardian
'Lucid, comprehensive and authoritative'
Philip Zeigler, Daily Telegraph
'An immensely readable epitome of one of the most complex events in history'
Paul Johnson, Evening Standard
'A masterly panorama ... Gilbert never forgets - and never allows his readers to forget - that the embattled armies were composed of millions of individuals, that it is the human experience and the human cost that matters'
Lyn MacDonald, Sunday Times
'In his transmission of the horror of the war, Martin Gilbert has achieved something probably no historian but he could'
John Keegan, The Sunday Times
Praise for Martin Gilbert:
.
'Admirably comprehensive'
Literary Review
'A superb book that works not only as history but as a guide for visitors to the battlefield today. Amongst the slew of new titles we can expect commemorating the battle, this stands unrivalled'
Good Book Guide
'Tireless ... a day-by-day account of the fight, triumph and tragedy hand in hand'
Spectator
'Powerful'
BBC History magazine
'[A] characteristically workmanlike book.'
Daily Telegraph
'A brilliant evocation of the battle'
The Times