Through Their Eyes: A Graphic History of Hill 70 and Canada's First World War

by Matthew Barrett, Robert C. Engen

By the summer of 1917, Canadian troops had captured Vimy Ridge, but Allied offensives had stalled across many fronts of the Great War. To help break the stalemate of trench warfare, the Canadian Corps commander, Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie, was tasked with capturing Hill 70, a German stronghold near the French town of Lens.After securing the hill on 15 August, Canadian soldiers endured days of shelling, machine-gun fire, and poison gas as they repelled relentless enemy counterattacks. Through Their Eyes depicts this remarkable but costly victory in a unique way. With full-colour graphic artwork and detailed illustration, Matthew Barrett and Robert Engen picture the battle from different perspectives – Currie’s strategic view at high command, a junior officer’s experience at the platoon level, and the vantage points of many lesser-known Canadian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. This innovative graphic history invites readers to reimagine the First World War through the eyes of those who lived it and to think more deeply about how we visualize and remember the past.Combining outstanding original art and thought-provoking commentary, Through Their Eyes uncovers the fascinating stories behind this battle while creatively expanding the ways that history is shared and represented.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Canada, War, History

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2022

About the author

Matthew Barrett (MDiv, PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the executive editor of Credo Magazine. He is the author of numerous books, including God's Word Alone, 40 Questions about Salvation, Reformation Theology, John Owen on the Christian Life, and Salvation by Grace. He is also the host of the Credo podcast where he talks with fellow theologians about the most important doctrines of the faith. He lives in Kansas City.

Reviews

[Chiyaa Pasal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute stunning and moving book. While my primary interest in the First World War is with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, when I saw this book I was immediately intrigued. I saw it as a way to expand out to Canadian history and to get a more visual representation of the war. It also seemed to be a different way to learn about the war. The title also caught my attention (Through Their Eyes) as I felt it would be a more personal perspective rather than an historical overview. The book did not disappoint in any of things and, if anything, vastly exceeded my expectations.

The authors refer to this as a “graphic history” and that clearly sums up this work; not a novel (fiction) and not a comic but a graphical representation firmly rooted in historical accuracy. The combination of narrative introductions, illustrations and graphics, full on historical references, and chapters focusing on different perspectives all work together very effectively to both explain the approach they have taken and to tell the story of Hill 70 in a very effective, engaging and accessible manner.

Highly, highly recommended to anyone interested in the First World War or Canadian history. I’m hoping more such works are created.

[Codepoetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thick book vividly presents the historical context around Canada's role in the Battle of Hill 70, one of the many battles fought during First World War. This excellent book also explores how different types of visual art, including photos, paintings, and drawings, reflect on history in different ways. Written and illustrated by a postdoctoral fellow at the Canadian War Museum, this finely curated visual feast is unlike any other book that I have read; I can only describe it as a lovingly curated museum exhibit cleverly disguised as a book.

[Alex Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book? It paints a portrait of the war that I have never seen, or even thought about, while engaging and challenging you with the contradictions of WWI. A beyond brilliant synthesis of history, art and feeling.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a world without war the war historians useful to the ruling class wouldn't have anything to write about. But I do agree that visual representation is a valuable learning tool, the whole "graphic novel" vs. " graphic history" thing.

But the authors deploy their skills and treat history like a story, not something that actually happened, and therefore get us no closer to understanding why the war happened, and what we wind up with is just more nationalistic romanticism, visually represented.

If you're looking for decent graphic histories, try "Ducks", the "A Girl Called Echo" series, or "Are You Willing to Die For the Cause?"

[Tracee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this work, it opened up history in a way that was powerful and still ... digestable.