Mud, Blood and Poppycock
Author | : Gordon Corrigan |
Publisher | : Weidenfeld & Nicolson |
Total Pages | : 431 |
Release | : 2003 |
ISBN-10 | : 0304359556 |
ISBN-13 | : 9780304359554 |
Rating | : 4/5 (56 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: Vividly written, and with the driest humor, this irreverent look at how Britain really won World War I demolishes myth upon myth. What becomes brilliantly (and amusingly) clear is just how many "established facts" have absolutely no basis in reality; instead they're fabrications created in the 1960s by young historians on the make. The soldiers from 1914-18 would simply not recognize their popular depiction on TV and in novels: instead, we see here how much the British embraced technology and developed the weapons and tactics that broke through enemy trenches. Vividly written, and with the driest humor, this irreverent look at how Britain really won World War I demolishes myth upon myth. What becomes brilliantly (and amusingly) clear is just how many "established facts" have absolutely no basis in reality; instead they're fabrications created in the 1960s by young historians on the make. The soldiers from 1914-18 would simply not recognize their popular depiction on TV and in novels: instead, we see here how much the British embraced technology and developed the weapons and tactics that broke through enemy trenches.