{"title":"Barbara Mcclune","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"star-shell-reflections-1916-book-barbara-mcclune-9781783463695","title":"Star Shell Reflections 1916","description":"As the centenary of the Great War approaches, this book offers a unique perspective told in the words and illustrations of someone who was there , in the front line. Although an American citizen, Jim Maultsaid's parents were Irish and he lived in Donegal.  Although he left school at age 13, the author was naturally gifted in both writing and drawing, with a great eye for detail, and has often been described as the unofficial war artist. Jim's personal style of writing is engaging, and along with his brilliant sketches and illustrations, takes the reader on a journey through not only the dark days and misery but also reveals the gritty humour that helped him and his 'chums' cope with the horrors of life in the trenches. The diaries offer in words and illustrations, a true insight into the thoughts of the ordinary soldiers, and are filled with untold stories from the Great War, covering aspects that have never been addressed in other books.  In particular there is new light shone on the Chinese Labour Corps, where Jim served as Captain, after he was certified unfit for active service due to his wounds.The book has great historical and educational value, and will give those of all ages a real understanding of how this brave generation faced war, and how they struggled to survive.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49533706731793,"sku":"GOR006812725","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50132812988689,"sku":"GOR013866328","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":53547668504849,"sku":"CIN1783463694G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1783463694.jpg?v=1750801707"},{"product_id":"war-hellish-war-star-shell-reflections-1916-1918-book-barbara-mcclune-9781473879430","title":"War! Hellish War! Star Shell Reflections 1916 - 1918","description":"Jim Maultsaid's illustrated diaries of his Great War service offer a unique and completely original perspective of a fighting man's experiences.  Although an American citizen Jim was living in Donegal in 1914 and first joined the Young Citizens Volunteers and then the British Army.  On 1 July 1916 the first day of the Somme, Sergeant Maultsaid was seriously wounded.  To quote from his diary as he lay in no-mans-land 'The most awful cries rent the night air...it was a shambles...it was 'Hell' with the lid off...it was'.  Unlike so many, Jim survived and was hospitalised in 'Blighty'.  After a spell in Northern Ireland, he was selected for officer training at Cambridge.  He was commissioned into The Chinese Labour Corps and his words and art work throw fascinating light on this little known but invaluable organization.  Jim's admiration for the CLC's contribution and culture is obvious.  War! Hellish War! is more than a Great War diary - it is a masterpiece and a collector's item of great historical and educational value.  Despite the countless records of this conflict there is nothing to compare it with. [184 words]","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49577311273233,"sku":"GOR013271635","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49766554272017,"sku":"GOR009805303","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1473879434.jpg?v=1750891965"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-barbara-mcclune.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}