Synopses & Reviews
On July 1, 1916, the British Army launched the "Big Push" that was supposed to bring an end to the horrific stalemate on the Western Front between British, French, and German forces. What resulted was one of the greatest single human catastrophes in twentieth century warfare. Scrambling out of trenches in the face of German machine guns and artillery fire, the Allied Powers lost over twenty thousand soldiers that first day. This "battle" would drag on for another four bloody months, resulting in over one million causalities among the three powers. As the oral historian at the Imperial War Museum in London, Peter Hart has brought to light new material never before seen or heard. is an unparalleled evocation of World War I's iconic contest--the definitive account of one of the major tragedies of the twentieth century.
Review
"Peter Hart's study not only is heartrending and definitive but also makes sense of this senseless disaster." Time
Review
"Hart superbly depicts these months of brutal combat in all their complexity." The New York Times Book Review
Review
"From Hart's book I was able to learn and grasp (and even picture) the historic importance of the "creeping" or perhaps better say "staggered" barrage. Hart succeeds in showing how the gunners got steadily better (as did the guns). If you have tears to shed, you will prepare to do so when you read of the "Pals" battalions that were formed out of men from single localities and neighborhoods." Christopher Hitchens
Synopsis
The definite history and a compelling narrative tribute to one of the bloodiest battles in world history.
Synopsis
As the oral historian at the Imperial War Museum in London, Peter Hart has brought to light new material never before seen or heard.The Somme is an unparalleled evocation of World War I s iconic contest the definitive account of one of the major tragedies of the twentieth century. "
Synopsis
One of the bloodiest battles in world history--a military tragedy that would come to define a generation.
About the Author
Peter Hart studied at Liverpool University before becoming a director at the Imperial War Museum in London. As the museum's Oral Historian, he works frequently with war veterans recording their wartime experiences.