This copy has not ISBN! Weird! I wonder what its history is? I found it recently at a car boot sale. £1 I think. I didn't realise I already had a paperback copy. I shall read one or this other (possibly this one as it's a bigger hardback copy and so the pictures are better quality) soon then release them both. Looking forward to reading it.

Read the paperback copy after all, but here's what I thought of it:

A few years ago the BBC uploaded an amazing collection of video interviews of First World War Survivors, from the women left behind to an international collection of armed forces veterans. The sound and images weren’t always perfect but the stories gathered were astounding. A few pages into this book, I realised that was the source for this book!

It was such a clever idea to tell the shocking story of the so-called Great War by compiling those interviews into a narrative, summarising the War Years.

What is special is that they interviewed lots different men and women. When you learn about history from the people who actually lived through it, it really comes alive! The telling is enriched by the discovery of all small insider detail that combine with the thoughts, feelings and impression with historical fact which really give the modern day reader and unique insider perspective. The text is also peppered with photographs of both the contributors and of events at the time.

The story of Christmas 2014 is incredible. Can you imagine being at war with someone, only to stop and become friends for the day. The have to go back to killing each other a few hours later? Random thought: I thought Germans did Christmas on December 24th? Surely the whole country wouldn't have changed the date from December 25th to 24th after a few soldiers fraternising?

And this wasn't the only astounding examples of friendship across the divide either.

But, the further on I read, the more frustrated I get, because I'm not that familiar with WWI. This brief summary of snippets (which are often out of context) was confusing to me. And many sections left me desperately wanting to know either what happened just before or what happened next.

But the biggest disappointment is that this collection is literally a White Wash (no non white soldiers or peoples included here). Were none interviewed for this archive? It wouldn't surprise me if that was the case, but it's a terrible error if it is. Take for instance the brief and unflattering mention of Indian soldiers who had apparently deliberately injured themselves - there's a story to be told right there (were they doing it because they had been forced into the army against their will?). Because there were also many brits who deliberately got themselves a Blighty (injury to get sent home). There was also a fleeting mention of Senegalese soldiers. I'm assuming they were from Senegal. It could only have enriched this book to add some diversity.

I do think I this book could make an interesting foundation for a film.

Going to my first ever BookCrossing meet up. Should have been a picnic in Regents Park, but Mother Nature had better ideas. Now we are going for a pub lunch in the Allsop Arms near Marylebone/Baker Street. I have a large bag of books to share, so though it easiest to make release notes now (I really don’t want to bring any back). So go forth brave little books! Thanks for letting me read you. I hope you find many new readers to delight.

picked up at a book crossing meetup in Regents park

Not the easiest book to read, however well worth it. A genuine account of the horror of trench warfare during the 1st world war. I liked that it included memoires of German soldiers as well. One thing that shocked me was the cruel way young women treated men who they perceived to be able to fight and who were in England still. The giving of white feathers. Well worth reading, however definitely not an easy read,

left on the shelf