Dodging the Devil: Letters from the Front

by George Martindale

Landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, fighting at Lone Pine, surviving Fromelles and suffering Bullecourt, George Martindale’s war experiences reflect a litany of our nation’s hallowed trials.

George described these actions for members of his family in the letters he sent home, forming a collection of his writings that is the basis of this book. He may well have become one of the great writers of twentieth century Australia had his life not ended prematurely as a result of the injuries he sustained on the Western Front.

George’s letters were a gift to his family but more so to posterity. They retain the scent of the trenches, and the stains of no man’s land. In them he honoured his mates, cherished his heritage and condemned falsities. His letters allow us to look back more than 100 years, and for his words to reach out to future generations.

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2016

Reviews

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Dodging The Devil : Letters From The Front' is a history book containing authentic WWI correspondence written by Australian soldier George Martindale to his family. George served in Egypt, Turkey and France. This book also contains letters from George's family plus photos and accounts of other soldiers from the town of Dimboola in Victoria, where George was from. Such an interesting and sometimes shocking account of the First World War.

[Jodie- Readthewriteact · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

I was very excited about reading this book as I am interested in Australian history and thought that reading actual letters from WW1 would be quite a different take on it. Sometimes i found this book hard to relate to and i had to remind myself that this isn't fiction. George isn't a character. He isn't writing these letters to make you or anyone happy he is writing to his family. His opinions were sometimes the hardest for me to understand, especially regarding the cowardice of reluctant soldiers. I think George may not have understood how rare he was in his bravery and how he took on being a soldier, not just a man fighting in a war, a soldier. His accounts of the campaigns were so enlightening especially in regards to Gallipoli. Overall, a good book especially for people interested in Australia history.

[Emmeline]

Once again, how can I rate this book? It was wonderfully put together and the history and story telling was wonderful, but I can't bring myself to rate the previous letters that George sent home from the midst of a horrible experience.