Great Britains Great War, Jeremy Paxman
Great Britains Great War, Jeremy Paxman
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Great Britain's Great War

Author: Jeremy Paxman

Narrator: Jeremy Paxman, Roy McMillan

Unabridged: 9 hr 49 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Viking

Published: 10/03/2013


Synopsis

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Jeremy Paxman's Great Britain's Great War. Read by the actor Roy McMillan, this magnificent history of the First World War tells the story of the war in one gripping narrative from the point of view of the British people.

NOW A MAJOR BBC TELEVISION SERIES

We may think we know about it, but what was life really like for the British people during the First World War?

The well-known images - the pointing finger of Lord Kitchener; a Tommy buried in the mud of the Western Front; the memorial poppies of remembrance day - all reinforce the idea that it was a pointless waste of life. So why did the British fight it so willingly and how did the country endure it for so long?

Using a wealth of first-hand source material, Jeremy Paxman brings vividly to life the day-to-day experience of the British over the entire course of the war, from politicians, newspapermen, campaigners and Generals, to Tommies, factory workers, nurses, wives and children, capturing the whole mood and morale of the nation. It reveals that life and identity in Britain were often dramatically different from our own, and show how both were utterly transformed - not always for the worst - by the enormous upheaval of the war.

Rich with personalities, surprises and ironies, this lively narrative history paints a picture of courage and confusion, doubts and dilemmas, and is written with Jeremy Paxman's characteristic flair for storytelling, wry humour and pithy observation.

"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

"A fine introduction to the part Britain played in the first of the worst two wars in history. The writing is lively and the detail often surprising and memorable" Guardian

Jeremy Paxman is a renowned broadcaster, award-winning journalist and the bestselling author of seven works of non-fiction, including The English, The Political Animal and Empire.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Michael on October 23, 2013

I enjoy reading Jeremy Paxman's books, and this was no exception. I wondered how he would handle such a momentous historical event, and he confesses that he sometimes struggled with the weighty task in hand. Although the general outline of the conflict is discussed, it's the little anecdotes and vign......more

Goodreads review by Graham on May 21, 2018

2018 is the centenary of the end of the First World War so I thought it only appropriate to read a book on the subject. Who better than Jeremy Paxman, that devout chronicler of the English, to write one? GREAT BRITAIN'S GREAT WAR is a typically fine exploration of the subject, remaining focused on l......more

Goodreads review by Ant on October 04, 2015

Jeremy Paxman’s Great Britain's Great War is a brief but very readable tour through the landscape of World War I. It’s a mix of the political, military, social, domestic and personal stories that give a surprisingly rounded picture of 1914-18. Paxman dispels some of the myths of the war and its afte......more

Goodreads review by Robert on August 07, 2014

I read this as knew very little about WW1. this good basic insight as to the conflict and ideal to help know what aspects you would like to further read up on. Paxan does tend to write as he appears on TV, a complete know all......more

Goodreads review by Jerry on July 15, 2024

World War 1 has a strong hold on me, as I think it does for many in the UK, despite the fact there are no longer any participants alive and the conflict ended well over a century ago. I think it is because I can remember grandparents who fought in the War but perhaps more resonantly, it is impossibl......more