Bloody Victory by William Philpott
1 July 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the hot, hellish day in the fields of northern France that has dominated our perception of the First World War for just shy of a century. The shameful waste; the pointlessness of young lives lost for the sake of a few yards; the barbaric attitudes of the British leaders; the horror and ignominy of failure. All have occupied our thoughts for generations. Yet are we right to view the Somme in this way? Drawing on a vast number of sources such as letters, diaries and numerous archives, Bloody Victory describes in vivid detail the physical conditions, the combat and exceptional bravery against the odds but it also, uniquely, captures how the Somme defined the twentieth century in so many ways. Moreover, it was the fundamental turning point of WW1 in the same way Stalingrad was in WW2. This is an utterly gripping new analysis of one of the most iconic campaigns in history.
** 'Bill Philpott has given us a comprehensive, thoroughly researched, and vividly written reappraisal of the Somme in the longest of historical perspectives.. His new findings and his provocative conclusions will be of exceptional importance not only for students of the battle itself but also for anyone interested in the First World War as a whole. David Stevenson, author of 1914-1918: THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR Required reading ... A thoughtful and important book by a first-rate historian ... It is a proper history of the battle, not simply an agonising account of its first day ... He is supremely skilful in charting what he terms the battle's "shifting h Richard Holmes A sweeping and authoritative re-examination of the battle ... Bloody Victory is a magnificent and powerful book, destined to become the standard work on the subject Christopher Silvester, Daily Express Comprehensive, thoroughly researched, and vividly written ... His new findings and his provocative conclusions will be of exceptional importance David Stevenson
Dr William Philpott has lectured in military history in the Department of War Studies, King's College London, since 2001. He is a specialist in the history of the First World War, in particular British strategy and the history of the French army. This is his first book for a general readership.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781408701089 |
| ISBN 10 | 1408701081 |
| Title | Bloody Victory |
| Author | William Philpott |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Little, Brown Book Group |
| Year published | 2009-07-02 |
| Number of pages | 736 |
| Prizes | Winner of Templer Medal 2010 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |