Faces of World War I: The Great War in Words and Pictures

by Max Arthur, Ian Hislop

This magnificent commemorative volume traces the tragedy of the Great War in words and pictures. Best-selling author Max Arthur brilliantly conveys not only the heroism, but also the universal horror, futility, absurdity and boredom of early 20th-century warfare. From the frontline troops and the daily dance with death, to the support lines, communications, enlistment, training, and propaganda, the story of the war is illustrated with over 200 images that have been handpicked from the world famous collection of the Imperial War Museum in London. Every aspect of the soldier's life is covered in this brilliant collection of images and eyewitness accounts that bring the Great War to life once more.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War I, War, Photography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Max Arthur is an author who specialises in first-hand recollections of historical events. He has worked closely with the Imperial War Museum to bring together two books in the Forgotten Voices series, Forgotten Voices of the Great War and Forgotten Voices of the Second World War. Prior to becoming a writer, he served with the Royal Air Force and for some years was an actor.

Reviews

[marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have "read" about World War I and I can already assure you that it will not be the last.

During the last few years, I have started to be more interested in History, specifically the World Wars, but until now I had not decided to read a book on the subject.

Nowadays I have seen a lot of movies, most of them about the Second World War and although I liked some of them very much, little by little I am discovering details that on many occasions are omitted or even sometimes they want to soften certain topics.

In short, through this book of photographs, I have been able to discover some of those details that are often not told or that go almost unnoticed.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a project I'm doing on the 100th anniversary of WWI. The photos are mesmerizing and sometimes absolutely gripping, particularly the dead staring with their eyes open, juxtaposed with cheerful, singing men in the midst of their misery.

The textual sections that introduce the photos of the war -- and this is told from the British perspective -- are rather didactic but do give the basics of the battle movements, and what comes through so strongly is what horrific loss of life there was for such few miles of territory gained. This was not the first war where lethal technology outstripped tactics, but was one of the deadliest, and of course was the last major war that used poison gas as well as bullets and shells.

Well worth a look.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Arthur has created a masterpiece. The photos are haunting, the quotes are poignant, and the year-by-year written summary helps provide context. I read this book in days, but the images will stay with me for a lifetime. Highly recommend for anyone high school age or older.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

These pictures, and very short comments by soldiers who were there, are an antidote to the romanticizing of warfare as infotainment and vicarious air-chair heroics many documentaries seem to communicate. It reinforces why WWI, with all its horrors and senseless bloodshed, was the ending of an era in Western culture.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating. Lots of interesting photos, with quotes from soldiers and others. Brief synopses of each year of the war- very helpful for me, since it's been such a long time since I learned about WWI in school!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting. For me, at least, properly remembrance of those who fought the Great War is greatly aided by seeing their faces, their wounds, their common humanity. One hundred years isn't all that long ago.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful piece of literature, these images convey all aspects of the soldier's lives during this historic period.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures were provocative, some very sad and some funny, I very much enjoyed studying every picture.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb collection of photographs. It's too focused on the UK for my tastes, but that's my only criticism.

[Dimmy-jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this awesome book brought home the tragic faces of war ,both of the victor and defeated,for me it was heart felt

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, somber, moving photographs.

[K.M. Weiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, haunting images of a war that is too often forgotten.