Great Britain's Great War by Jeremy Paxman
Life in Britain during the First World War was far stranger than many of us realize. The author tells the story of the war through the experience of those who lived it - nurses, soldiers, politicians, factory-workers, journalists and children - explaining why we fought it so willingly, how we endured it so long, and how it transformed us all.
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, colourfulPaxman 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 *
A procession of fascinating details . . . he narrates with brio . . . conveys the texture of the times . . . write[s] with clarity and sympathy * Spectator *
Paxman is particularly good . . . in showing how much a modern perspective distorts our understanding . . . summarises well how class barriers were shattered . . . refreshingly combative in arguing that the war was not futile * Prospect *
Mixing pragmatism with sardonic observation . . . one is left with a better understanding of how the Great Britain that began the war became more like ordinary Britain, shorn of global power and prestige, by its end * Sunday Times *
Compelling . . . a moving, incisive and wide-ranging study of why a generation felt going to war was not only unavoidable but necessary * Daily Mail *
The writing is lively and the detail often surprising and memorable * Guardian *
Incisive, colourfulPaxman 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 *
A procession of fascinating details . . . he narrates with brio . . . conveys the texture of the times . . . write[s] with clarity and sympathy * Spectator *
Paxman is particularly good . . . in showing how much a modern perspective distorts our understanding . . . summarises well how class barriers were shattered . . . refreshingly combative in arguing that the war was not futile * Prospect *
Mixing pragmatism with sardonic observation . . . one is left with a better understanding of how the Great Britain that began the war became more like ordinary Britain, shorn of global power and prestige, by its end * Sunday Times *
Compelling . . . a moving, incisive and wide-ranging study of why a generation felt going to war was not only unavoidable but necessary * Daily Mail *
Jeremy Paxman was born in Yorkshire and educated at Cambridge. He is an award-winning journalist who spent ten years reporting from overseas, notably for Panorama. He is the author of five books including The English. He is the presenter of Newsnight and University Challenge and has presented BBC documentaries on various subjects including Victorian art and Wilfred Owen.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780670919635 |
| ISBN 10 | 0670919632 |
| Title | Great Britain's Great War |
| Author | Jeremy Paxman |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2014-06-05 |
| Number of pages | 368 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |