An in-the-round history of Britain during the first world war examining the experience of a country fighting a world war from humble factory worker to soldier to politician and journalist. How did people cope both physically and mentally and perhaps the biggest question of all is why, why did the British people go into the war and why did they endure? Jeremy Paxman has a sure grip on the facts revealing the mood and feelings of the period, you may think you know the answers to the questions he poses but be prepared to be challenged and corrected.
Jeremy Paxman's magnificent history of the First World War tells the entire story of the war in one gripping narrative from the point of view of the British people.
He writes so well and sympathetically, and chooses his detail so deftly, that if there is one new history of the war that you might actually enjoy from the very large centennial selection this is very likely it . (The Times). We may think we know about it, but what was life really like for the British people during the First World War? The well-known images - the pointing finger of Lord Kitchener; a Tommy buried in the mud of the Western Front; the memorial poppies of remembrance day - all reinforce the idea that it was a pointless waste of life. So why did the British fight it so willingly and how did the country endure it for so long? Using a wealth of first-hand source material, Jeremy Paxman brings vividly to life the day-to-day experience of the British over the entire course of the war, from politicians, newspapermen, campaigners and Generals, to Tommies, factory workers, nurses, wives and children, capturing the whole mood and morale of the nation. It reveals that life and identity in Britain were often dramatically different from our own, and show how both were utterly transformed - not always for the worst - by the enormous upheaval of the war. Rich with personalities, surprises and ironies, this lively narrative history paints a picture of courage and confusion, doubts and dilemmas, and is written with Jeremy Paxman's characteristic flair for storytelling, wry humour and pithy observation. A fine introduction to the part Britain played in the first of the worst two wars in history. The writing is lively and the detail often surprising and memorable . (Guardian). Jeremy Paxman is a renowned broadcaster, award-winning journalist and the bestselling author of seven works of non-fiction, including The English, The Political Animal and Empire.
He writes so well and sympathetically, and chooses his detail so deftly, that if there is one new history of the war that you might actually enjoy from the very large centennial selection this is very likely it - The Times
The writing is lively and the detail often surprising and memorable Guardian Incisive, colourful. Paxman delves into every aspect of British life to capture the mood and morale of the nation Daily Express ****
Clever, laconic and racy. A judicious mix between individual stories and the 'bigger picture' ... engages the mind and emotions - Telegraph
Author
About Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Paxman is a renowned broadcaster, award-winning journalist and the bestselling author of seven works of non-fiction, including The English, The Political Animal and Empire.
