Product Description

The Falklands War was a turning point in modern British history. On the one hand, it was what some considered to be the 'last of the great Elizabethan adventures', with the Royal Navy pulling off an incredible feat of maritime warfare, under the most appallingly risky circumstances. On the other hand, it was the first war of the modern age, using satellite surveillance, computer-driven missiles, night observation devices, and all the technologically developed power of modern weaponry. It was also a conflict that could so easily have gone terribly wrong for British forces. Instead, it was a resounding military success. And yet, the conflict's significance is often overlooked.Drawing upon the vast resources of the Imperial War Museum's sound archive, which contains thousands of interviews with both soldiers and civilians, both British and Argentinean, "Forgotten Voices of the Falkands War" redresses the balance, presenting a complete oral history of the Falklands War. From the initial invasion of the islands to the British landings, the sinking of the Belgrano to brutal combat at Goose Green, the Argentinean surrender through to its aftermath, the book is a unique and essential chronicle of the conflict told from all sides and perspectives. It includes the visceral and often terrifying experiences of the combatants as well as the poignant and sometimes surreal recollections of the islanders caught in the middle. Utilising all the qualities that have made the "Forgotten Voices" series so popular, Hugh McManners, who himself fought in the Falklands War and witnessed its brutality first-hand, has created the definitive oral history on the subject.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17545 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

About the Author
Hugh McManners was a captain in 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery, serving with the Special Boat Squadron during the Falklands War. He joined the British Army in 1972 and in 1975 was sponsored by them to read Geography at Oxford University. He is now a documentary producer and freelance writer.

Customer Reviews

Has some perspectives to offer, but...
There are a wealth of books on the Falklands, but this one claims to be the most sustained oral history available. It certainly comes with some impressive credentials, being part of the 'Forgotten Voices' series of oral histories sponsored by the Imperial War Museum, and also drawing on other archives held by Falklands civillians and the BBC.

I think this august comapny is part of the problem. The two World Wars are gradually turning into history, and recollections come to us over the distance of at least sixty years. The Falklands, for all the restrictions of the time, was comprehensively chronicled by print, radio, film and television. Retrospectives of the conflict have taken place as recently as 1992 and 2002. Publishing has served a constant stream of accounts and memoirs over the last 26 years.

This is a worthy book, well-edited and comprehensive. The civilian experience and the Argentine perspectives are given respectful room, but the British military stories dominate, as one might expect. Oral history has to be taken with a pinch of salt, as well-publicised accounts interact and achieve a life of their own. This is not to detract from the accounts here which are in many cases vivid and chilling testimony to modern warfare: just a reminder that history is an imperfect human activity like any other.

This is a sizeable and comprehensive oral history of the Falklands war edited with sensitivity by a distinguished veteran. For a clear, objective account of the fighting and the diplomatic context, there are other books available. The major flaw with it is the label 'forgotten'; there's not enough new material to warrant the description. What's here is familiar, but no less moving for that.

Powerful and moving perspective of war
I don't normally do 5 stars so as I try to review this book, I will try to explain what makes it (in my eyes) so special.

Written in chronological order from before the start of the Falklands War this is a number of eye witness accounts so the perspective varies. This perspective is balanced with civilians and Argentines so all aspects of the conflict are presented.

I had a view of the Falklands war and specifically of the sinking of the Belgrano and I have to admit that I have changed my view upon reading this. I also learnt a great deal that I was not expecting to. Our politicians do not come out of this well (John Nott going to tell the Falkland Islanders that Britain would not come to their rescue if there was a problem - and there were Argentine officers in the room who would have taken the message straight back home) nor does Admiral Sandy Woodward who seems to have made some very poor decisions at the sharp end.

An emotional book too - the sailor who describes how he was blinded for life, the Islanders kept locked up for days, the Argentine conscript not understanding where he was being sent, or why. The injuries caused from burns because we had replaced cotton shirts with fabrics that melted into and onto the skin...The loss of life from the Paras, the Argentine civvie brothers lost on the Belgrano because they stayed on board despite the fact all they did was run a crew shop - many, many sad and brave tales that made me realise what happened all those many miles away in the middle of no-where.

I would have like to have heard from some of the Special Forces that were involved, but generally a very wide ranging and balanced view is presented.

So, why five stars? Well this is a very well written and presented account of war. It made me think and change my views and feel on an emotional level about many of the people involved. Fantastic stuff.

Poor example of the Forgotten Voices series
This is a classic example of how not to write a book in the Forgotten Voices series.

When around half way through reading, I was puzzled why I thought this book didn't "feel" right. I then realised that there was not one comment from an ordinary UK soldier/sailor/airman.

Flicking through the book I saw Major this, General that, Captain this, Colonel that. As a result, the difference between this and other books in the series is striking. It reads like a tactical overview of the conflict rather than an in the trenches one.

Of all the thousands involved, it is the officer classes that are included, again and again. I am not interested in an officer sat behind the lines, I want to know how the ordinary serviceman fought and died on both sides of the conflict.

Ironically it is left to an Argentine Private to decribe what life was like during the conflict, our own Privates appear to have been silenced in favour of the officers to present their version of the truth.

Go and read other books in the Forgotten series, skip this one.