Product Description

Here are the great battlefields of the First World War as you have never seen them before, from the first cavalry skirmishes, through the horrors of the Somme and Passchendaele, to the final weeks of conflict. A revelatory, unique collection of panoramic photographs covering the whole of the British sectors of the Western Front, end to end. The vast battlescapes are interspersed with poignant individual photographs and the recollections of the soldiers caught in the action. This new edition of the acclaimed volume features 30 recently discovered German panoramas, plus a new DVD that includes 60 extra panoramas making a total of 300 panoramas in interactive form; as well as updated mapping throughout.The last time most of the panoramas were viewed - in the trenches - they were marked Top-Secret and destined for the eyes of the commanding officer only. Taken at huge personal risk by specialist photographers during the war, the panoramas reveal what no other photographs can - the view beyond the trench parapet - and a great deal more.Each panorama offers a view of up to 160 degrees, so sharply focused that the individual figures of a waiting sniper or a soldier picking lice from his shirt can be made out. They document a lost world. What they reveal challenges almost all of our existing perceptions of the 'war to end all wars', and the nature of the landscape of battle. As well as vistas of tortured pastures and seas of mud, they show churches still standing, sandy beaches, and fields of flowers. In many, there is little evidence of war at all. There are indeed desolate scenes but, above all, these photographs now reveal that for much of the time the war was waged in a real and recognisable landscape.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29046 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review
This is a truly remarkable book. --Warbooksoutnow.co.uk

About the Author
Peter Barton is a historian, archaeologist and film-maker. He authored The Battlefields of the First World War after researching the forgotten Imperial War Museum panorama archive for eight years. His other books include The Somme, and Passchendaele. He continues to lead an ongoing project to recover, interpret and publish all surviving battlefield panoramas. Barton has also led several major excavations on the Western Front, and produced the critically acclaimed documentary films The Underground War, The Soldiers' Pilgrimage and Conviction. He is secretary of the All Party Parliamentary War Graves and Battlefields Heritage Group.

Customer Reviews

Outstanding
When it comes to buying something really exciting about the Great War then you will not do any better than Peter Barton's epic book. It shows a genuine commitment to furthering interest in the War by producing fascinating new material and to the highest standard. The panoramas alone are good enough to take your breath away, but the text and the intergrated images are superb; I can't imagine the amount of effort that went into this book. However, the results make the purchase worth every penny. Well done Mr Barton.

A Serious Book for the Seriously Interested
I bought this shortly before a trip to the battlefields late in 2008, thinking it would make suitable reading while away. I was wrong, not least since this is a very big, very heavy book. Definitely one to be sat before at a table and considered seriously.

So, no field-spotter's guide, but an amazingly revealing and informative reference book which has captivated me for many hours since my return.

It is almost impossible to envisage what that part of the world was like during the war by visiting it today, even on a cold, damp and misty November. However, this book and the panoramas it contains help you mentally overlay the contemporary scene and glimpse into the alien world millions of men fought and died in.

As with so much about the First World War, it comes as a shock, especially driving across today's customs-less borders, to think that so much effort and life was wasted doing little more than moving mud about.

Highly recommended, especially to those wishing to go beyond the usual history book format.

Another great helping from Barton.
Having missed this product`s first printing i couldn`t wait for the second edition to come out. I already own `The Somme` and `Passchendaele` by the same author and this was not a disappointment, the detail well researched and panoramas unrivalled. I don`t know how long it takes to write a book like this but it was certainly worth the time. Between all 3 books there can`t be much of this sector of the Western front unchartered. I heartliy recommend this for any WW1 enthusiast.