Customer Reviews
A Mess - By: , 05 Aug 2002 
What is this book about, exactly? The book of the three part docu/reality/history programme is as confused as its TV counterpart. Leaping from very clumsy justification of the television series (which is neither needed nor asked for) there is little here to expand on the programme, & much which merely repeats verbatim large extracts of the commentary & first person accounts. In turn these not nearly as incisive or deftly used as either those from Richard Holmes's excellent "Western Front" (whose book of the series goes into considerably more depth than is possible during the course of the programme), or the books of Lyn Macdonald. The historical detail, whilst strong on smalll effects, gives little of the wider picture & produces a vague, unsettled image of the Western Front & the men who served there.
Superficial and uninformative - By: K Mansfield, 14 Jun 2002 Very disappointing. I was hoping for an explanation, if not a justification, for the making of the TV series, but the author gives little information about the modern day Hull Pals' experiences or emotions & even less factual detail about daily life in the trenches, other than that which could be gained by a cursory read through any modern history. Not at alll "emotional & harrowing" (as per the blurb), merely superficial & uninformative.
this book is both compeling and emotional. - By: , 04 May 2002 
Having watched the BBC2 The Trench programme, I just had to buy the book.the book gives you a major insight in to the every day life within the front line during the 1st world war.
with the vetriens testimony & the tv volunteers
of trench life,brings home the reader how ordinary people became soldiers,expected to lay down their lives for king & country.
