See all books authored by hugh sebagmontefiore, including enigma. It has been hailed as the best book about the battle, which, though not an allied victory, was the beginning of. Into the breach, the noted military historian hugh sebagmontefiore shows that by turning our focus to stories of the front line. Amazon price new from used from kindle edition please retry. I place the history in quotation marks because this is the new form of history it offers an impressionistic view based on multiple individual accounts never actually develops the why and where of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Into the breach, the noted military historian hugh sebagmontefiore shows that by turning our focus to stories of the front lineto acts of heroism and. Into the breach book online at low prices in india.
Into the breach, the noted military historian hugh sebagmontefiore shows that by turning our focus to stories of the front lineto. Jun 29, 2016 hugh sebagmontefiores magisterial somme. Somme into the breach hugh sebagmontefiore lessons. Jun 18, 2016 the roaring of the shells was diabolical. Jan 08, 2019 somme into the breach hugh sebagmontefiore this is a detailed and harrowing book which took me some time to get into. The book meticulously chronicles each of the battles on this one front and records that the same things happened again and again.
It also contains some excellent maps which are clearly drawn. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. I appreciate the scholarship but the lack of a narrative and lack of strategic context make this book difficult to. Combining years of historical research with compelling new first hand testimony, somme is a remarkable portrait of life at the front publishers description having read almost everything that has been written on this battle. I appreciate the scholarship but the lack of a narrative and lack of strategic context make this book difficult to recommend to the general reader. No conflict better encapsulates all that went wrong on the western front during world war i than the battle of the somme in 1916. While the somme resonates here in the western europe, and has captured the imagination during the centenary of the battle in 1916. In the end this is a book for the serious, detail oriented military historian. Ive taken the plunge and ordered lyn macdonalds book on the somme, working on the assumption that it follows a similar pattern to her book on passchendaele.
Into the breach, the noted military historian hugh sebagmontefiore shows that by turning our focus to stories of the front line to acts of heroism and moments of both terror and triumph we can counter, and even change, familiar narratives. The book is well illustrated with photographs, some of which i have not come across before. This new insight into the first world wars bloodiest battle finds the wounded taking solace in mythmaking and spiritualism. There was a great deal of helpful information which i was not aware of for example the fact that there were what was known as pals battalions, where recruits usually. The notion of battles as the irreducible building blocks of war demands a sin. I place the history in quotation marks because this is the new form of history it offers an impressionistic view based on multiple individual accounts never actually develops the why and where of what took place. Into the breach is a very fine addition to the now considerable library of books about the battle which try to relate its story to help us imagine, if not precisely understand, what took place in this small corner of a foreign field between july and november of 1916 and ended with 419, 654 british. This book brings all these forces together into the mud and devastation of the tranches. Into the breach book online at best prices in india on. Its subtitle, into the breach, is a notquite quotation from the agincourt speech in shakespeares henry v, the heroic.
Into the breach 1st edition by hugh sebagmontefiore isbn. Hugh sebagmontefiore is the author of the new book somme. Despite this, this book shows the extent to which the allied armies were in fact able repeatedly to break through the german front lines. Into the breach was published as a hardback in june 2016 to coincide with the battle of the somme centenary. Into the breach, the noted military historian hugh sebagmontefiore shows that by turning our focus to stories of the front lineto acts of heroism and moments of both terror and triumphwe can counter, and even change, familiar narratives. No conflict better encapsulates all that went wrong on the western front during world war i than the battle of the somme in. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. An extraordinary and fresh account of the most famous battle in world war one. It has been hailed as the best book about the battle, which, though not an allied victory, was the beginning of the slide towards german defeat. Somme hugh sebagmontefiore harvard university press. He uses letters and diaries to resurrect the combatants as real men, husbands. Into the breach is a new history of the infamous world war i battle. Aug 01, 2016 but this kind of accounting leaves no room to record the nuances and twists of actual conflict. While the somme resonates here in the western europe, and has captured the.
Sep 11, 2016 hugh sebagmontefiores first world war history, somme. He weaves in these firsthand experiences, creating a remarkable portrait of life at the front. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. In april 1992 a young man from a welltodo family hitchhiked to alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of mt. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. He includes not just the british viewpoint, but also the moving. His work has appeared in a variety of publications, including the sunday times and sunday telegraph, and he is based in london. Buy a discounted paperback of somme online from australias leading online bookstore. See all 8 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This is a detailed and harrowing book which took me some time to get into. Into the breach an epic, heroic and captivating account of the most famous battle in world war one. Apr 17, 2017 hugh sebagmontefiore took advantage of the sommes centenary year to publish somme. Easy, thanks to montefiores deep knowledge and exceptional writing.
Booktopia has somme, into the breach by hugh sebagmontefiore. Photo shows british soldiers about to attack during the battle of the somme. He draws on previously unpublished sources from britain, australia. Somme by hugh sebagmontefiore penguin books australia. Into the breach by hugh sebagmontefiore, hardcover. Somme puts a human face on a massive military catastrophe.
Its not a book to be enjoyed, but it serves as a salutary reminder of what the men at the front endured in the battles of the somme during the months from july to november 1916. Jul 18, 2016 the first is that britain entered into a continental war totally unprepared in terms of weapons, particularly heavy artillery pieces, and in well trained massed manpower properly led at all levels of command. Into the breach, which focuses on the world war i battle. Into the breach 1st edition by sebagmontefiore, hugh isbn. This is the story of a chelmsford soldier who fought at.
The sunday times top 10 bestseller on the greatest battle of world war one with groundbreaking new material on the soldiers experiences featuring newly discovered accounts from around the world. Into the breach, the noted military historian hugh sebagmontefiore shows that by turning our focus to stories of the front lineto acts of heroism and moments of both terror. Into the breach by hugh sebagmontefiore is published by viking. Hugh sebagmontefiore the notion of battles as the irreducible building blocks of war demands a single verdict of each campaignvictory, defeat, stalemate. Best book on the somme since martin middlebrookes superb account of the first day, brilliantly read and new must have in all formats 12 people found this helpful. Into the breach hardcover 30 jun 2016 by hugh sebagmontefiore author.
Rescuing from history the heroes on the front line whose bravery has been overlooked, and giving voice to their bereaved relatives at home, hugh sebagmontefiore reveals the battle of the somme in all its glory and misery, helping us to realize that there are many meaningful ways to define a battle when seen through the eyes of those who lived it. Into the breach by hugh sebagmontefiore hardback, 2016 at the best online prices at ebay. The author has uncovered some remarkable stories, as yet unknown, of action and heroism in the face of battle. Somme into the breach hugh sebagmontefiore lessons from. If only all military histories contained such good maps. But this kind of accounting leaves no room to record the nuances and twists of actual conflict.
The tragic loss of life and stoic endurance by troops who walked towards their death is an iconic image which will be hard to ignore during the centennial year. The first is that britain entered into a continental war totally unprepared in terms of weapons, particularly heavy artillery pieces, and in well trained massed manpower properly led at all levels of command. Historian shares incredible story of chelmsford soldier who fought during the battle of the somme. Hugh sebagmontefiore is the author of three best selling history books, two about the 2nd world war, and one about the 1st world war. Britain was still playing catch up when the somme campaign began. Somme by hugh sebagmontefiore, 9780670918386, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. A painstaking chronological account of the hideously marred attack on the german entrenchments at the somme, julyseptember 1916a beautifully crafted, blowbyblow account with deep insight into the lives of these diverse young men.
This is a shame as the context of the somme is as important as the details of the battle itself. This book, though exhaustively researched, shows signs of hasty composition in the rush to meet the centenary deadline. Into the breach, reexamines the actions of the battle. The notion of battles as the irreducible building blocks of war demands a single verdict of each campaignvictory, defeat, stalemate.
Hugh sebagmontefiores first world war history, somme. Somme by hugh sebagmontefiore, 9780141043326, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Into the breach by hugh sebagmontefiore overview the notion of battles as the irreducible building blocks of war demands a single verdict of each campaignvictory, defeat, stalemate. No conflict better encapsulates all that went wrong on the western front than the battle of the somme in 1916. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.