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The Second World War: A Short History
by R. A. C. ParkerThis is a compact but comprehensive and absorbing history of the Second World War. It examines the causes of the war, how it was won and lost, and its far-reaching consequences for humanity.
The Second World War: Ambitions to Nemesis
by Bradley LightbodyBradley Lightbody presents a fascinating and accessible history of the Second World War in its global context. Examining the war around general themes from ambition and advance, through expansion and containment, to rout and victory, The Second World War covers all the major theatres and events of the war. From the origins and background to the war to its aftermath and legacy, The Second World War covers: * the pre-war ambitions of Italy, Germany and Japan* the outbreak of the war in Poland* the 'Phoney War'* Blitzkrieg, the Fall of France and the Battle of Britain* Pearl Harbour* the war in North Africa and El Alamein* the final solution* D-Day, the liberation of Italy and deliverance from the concentration camps* the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the global ambitions and the global warfare that was the Second World War, making it essential reading for all students of twentieth century world history.
The Second World War: An Illustrated History
by James HollandDiscover the story of the Second World War brought to life in full colour by renowned historian James Holland and award-winning artist Keith Burns'A fully immersive experience. A comprehensive yet fast-paced and gripping insight into the Second World War. Not just accessible, but riveting. An absolute pleasure to read' GET HISTORY'A ground-breaking collaboration between bestselling historian James Holland and award-winning artist Keith Burns presents the war in full colour, bringing the text vividly to life' HISTORY OF WAR__________From the great cities of Europe to the jungles of Burma, and from the deserts of North Africa to the remote islands of the South Pacific and the freezing waters of the Arctic, the Second World War touched every continent and ocean on the planet. And from the Blitzkrieg to the atom bomb, the fighting fuelled new technological development on land, at sea and in the air at a ferocious pace. Our future was forged by war.Combining compelling personal stories with a clear and accessible appreciation of the strategic and operational battle for supremacy between the Allies and the Axis powers, bestselling historian James Holland weaves an irresistible narrative, with over 250 illustrations by acclaimed artist Keith Burns, commissioned specially for this project.Together, they bring events in The Second World War: An Illustrated History to life with stunning drama and dynamism.Over five years in the making, their groundbreaking collaboration has produced a unique and unforgettable account of the most extraordinary events the world has ever seen.__________'Gripping text, masterful imagery and touching personal stories make this a must-buy for anyone with an interest in World War Two' CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLES'A bold attempt to expand the market for military history . . . aimed at a general reader who wants to get an overall grasp of a massive subject . . . this is an impressive achievement' BOOKBRUNCH
The Second World War: Asia And The Pacific (The West Point Military History Series)
by Thomas E. GriessBeginning with a look at the readiness of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy and the United States armed forces, this book gives a detailed account of the Allies’ brutal five-year struggle with Japan. It examines the interrelationship of land, sea, and air forces as they battled over the vast reaches of the Pacific Theater of War.
The Second World War: The Classic One-Volume Abridgment (Winston S. Churchill The Second World War)
by Winston S. ChurchillThe former Prime Minister and Nobel Prize–winning author chronicles Britain’s World War II experience from the aftermath of WWI to July 1945.World War II was the most pivotal event of the twentieth century. It was Great Britain’s darkest and finest hour in which the nation’s people showed great resilience and resourcefulness. Helping to lead them through this tumultuous era was Sir Winston Churchill. The Second World War is his account of the period, compiled using his own notes as well as official documents to which he had official access.This edition of The Second World War is the classic one-volume abridgment of Sir Winston Churchill’s landmark history of the conflict. It was abridged by Denis Kelly (with Churchill’s approval) of the following volumes composed by Churchill: The Gathering Storm, The Finest Hour, The Grand Alliance, The Hinge of Fate, Closing the Ring, and Triumph and Tragedy. This edition also features Churchill’s epilogue now published in book form for the first time. At once a personal account and a magisterial history, this remains Churchill's literary masterpiece.
The Second World War: Volume III The Japanese War 1941–1945 (The Second World War)
by Jeremy BlackWorld War II defined the 20th century and shaped the contemporary world; from the decolonization of Africa to the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall. This comprehensive series, edited by one of the worlds leading military historians, offers a focused overview of this complex and volatile era, taking into account the political, economic and social factors, as well as military circumstances of the road to war and its consequences. Augmented by a full length and detailed introduction by the editor, each volume gathers together the seminal articles on specific arenas of the war, providing a convenient and essential resource for researchers and general readers alike.
The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won
by Victor Davis HansonA definitive account of World War II by America's preeminent military historianWorld War II was the most lethal conflict in human history. Never before had a war been fought on so many diverse landscapes and in so many different ways, from rocket attacks in London to jungle fighting in Burma to armor strikes in Libya.The Second World Wars examines how combat unfolded in the air, at sea, and on land to show how distinct conflicts among disparate combatants coalesced into one interconnected global war. Drawing on 3,000 years of military history, Victor Davis Hanson argues that despite its novel industrial barbarity, neither the war's origins nor its geography were unusual. Nor was its ultimate outcome surprising. The Axis powers were well prepared to win limited border conflicts, but once they blundered into global war, they had no hope of victory.An authoritative new history of astonishing breadth, The Second World Wars offers a stunning reinterpretation of history's deadliest conflict.
The Secret Air War Over France: USAAF Special Operations Units In The French Campaign Of 1944
by Major Bernard Victor Moore IIThis paper presents an historical account of the operations of United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) special operations units in the French campaign of 1944. The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, it is intended to be a brief history of the creation, development and combat record of these units. Second, it is intended for use as an example of the utility and effectiveness of air force special operations in high intensity conventional warfare.The narrative basically begins in early 1943, as the Western Allies began making plans for the cross-Channel invasion of Normandy. At the request of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the USAAF commands in the United Kingdom and North Africa secretly organized a small number of special operations squadrons for use in covert operations over France. Their overall mission was to provide specialized airlift for clandestine warfare activities intended to support the conventional ground forces during the critical days and weeks immediately after D-Day.From October 1943 through September 1944, these squadrons flew thousands of clandestine missions, parachuting guerrilla warfare teams and intelligence agents deep behind German lines, dropping weapons, ammunition, explosives and other supplies to French resistance fighters, and extracting teams from enemy territory.The USAAF squadrons, operating in conjunction with similar British squadrons, enabled American and British special forces and French irregular units to operate with great effectiveness in the vulnerable rear areas behind German lines.
The Secret Army: The Memoirs of General Bór-Komorowski
by Gen. Tadeusz Bór-KomorowskiThe Polish Home Army was Europe’s largest, and most active, resistance force. Composed of men, women, and children from all walks of life, it was a truly national movement designed to regain Poland’s freedom. Largely self-sufficient, the Polish Home Army carried out extensive sabotage operations and provided the allies with vital intelligence information.General Bór-Komorowski was Commander of this underground organization. The Secret Army is his personal account of those desperate days; it is also the history of a proud people prepared to make tremendous sacrifices. It covers in detail the famous Warsaw Uprising of August, 1944, one of the most tragic events in modern Polish history. For his leadership in this battle, General Bór-Komorowski has been given the highest praise.The Secret Army is a testimony to the fact that the price of freedom is a high one, but it is one that the Polish Nation has never shrunk from paying.
The Secret Betrayal of Britain's Wartime Allies: The Appeasement of Stalin and Its Post-War Consequences
by Jim AutonAs a British airman of the Second World War, Jim Auton dropped bombs on enemy targets all over central and eastern Europe. He was also engaged in a number of low flying operations, organised in order to drop containers of explosives and ammunition in an effort to assist groups of partisans in enemy occupied countries. After the war, he was to enter the cut-throat world of international trade, setting up an extensive network of clients in the industrial areas of the western world. It was during this time that an opportunity arose to revisit all those bombing targets and areas where he had supported secret underground resistance forces during the war.Working undercover on the stated objective of investigating potential East/West trading opportunities, he was to discover, to his great dismay, the final fates of the various partisan operations that he had so bravely endeavoured to assist. He was to discover that many of the Poles and Czechoslovaks who had assisted British units during the conflict had either been killed or imprisoned by the Communist authorities. He argues that, once victory over Nazi Germany had been secured, British and allied governments betrayed these resistance workers who had so bravely served the cause and paid such a significant contribution towards the allied war effort. In this, his second work of autobiographical memoir, Auton provides an enthralling first-hand account of intrigue, assassination, espionage and shameful betrayal on both sides of the Iron Curtain.Jim Auton MBE holds the following awards - Presidential Gold Order of Merit (Poland), Presidential Gold Medal for Merit (Czech), Polish Cross of Valour, Czech Military Cross, Warsaw Uprising Cross, Armia Krajowa Cross and four Slovak and Russian medals. He was appointed as British Honorary Pilot of the Czechoslovak Air Force and he holds an Attendance Diploma from the Polish Senior Officers' Flying School at Deblin. After retirement in 1980 he became an authorized researcher in the archives at the Auschwitz death camp. He is the founder of the Air Bridge Memorial adjacent to the Polish war graves at Newark on Trent.
The Secret Between Them
by Cathryn ParryThey share more than a past Wounded, weary and wiser, ex-marine Kyle Northrup had planned to stay far away from Wallis Point. But after his stepfather's passing, he must return home and claim his unexpected inheritance: the ice rink he grew up on. Except he has to share ownership with Jessica Hughes, the hometown girl who got away and whose figure skating career he ended. He'd hoped the rink would save him once more, as it had when he was a grief-stricken youth, but working with Jessica will be hard. Especially since his teenage infatuation is now full-blown adult attraction. And the last thing he wants to do is hurt Jessica again.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea: A Novel
by Patti Callahan HenryFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis comes a &“heartrending, captivating tale of family, first love, and fate&” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author) about a woman who stumbles across a mysterious children&’s book that holds secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II.1939: Fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora evacuate their London home for a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the Aberdeen family in a charming stone cottage, Hazel distracts her younger sister with a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own: Whisperwood. But the unthinkable happens when Flora suddenly vanishes after playing near the banks of the River Thames. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister&’s disappearance, carrying the guilt into adulthood. Twenty years later, Hazel is back in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore for a career at Sotheby&’s. With a cherished boyfriend and an upcoming Paris getaway, her future seems set. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing a picture book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Hazel never told a soul about the storybook world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to her beloved sister&’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that Flora is still alive after all these years? Or is something sinister at play? Inspired by the history of the Pied Piper Children, this novel is a poignant reminder of the magical power of stories to draw us together—and ultimately bring us home.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea: A Novel
by Patti Callahan HenryWhen a woman discovers a rare book with connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood in the English countryside during World War II are revealed in this &“beguiling blend of hope, mystery, and true familial love&” (Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author).In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own. But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister&’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves. Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby&’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel&’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora&’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years? As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. Spellbinding and atmospheric, &“this heartrending, captivating tale of family, first love, and fate will sweep you away&” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author).
The Secret Capture: U-110 and the Enigma Story
by Stephen RoskillFor fifteen years after the end of the war all official Admiralty records showed the German submarine U 110 as sunk on 9 May 1941 by the surface escorts of convoy OB.318. As this book was the first to reveal, this was a deliberate deception, as the U-boat was actually captured and its contents fully investigated before being allowed to sink a day later, a fact skilfully kept from even the survivors of the submarines crew. As the official historian of the naval war, Roskill had followed the party line when writing his authorised account, but provoked by exaggerated claims concerning a US Navy capture of a U-boat in 1944, Roskill decided to set the record straight. His narrative is prefaced by brief coverage of previous submarine captures by the Royal Navy three Italian and one German before covering the U 110 operation in great detail, underlining the skill and bravery of those involved.We now know that the reason for the secrecy was that the U-boat gave up valuable codebooks, charts, ciphers and, most significantly, a complete and undamaged Enigma machine. At the time of the books first publication, Ultra was still a secret, so Roskill (who clearly knew about it) had to be discreet about the exact details of what was taken from the submarine while insisting on its crucial value to the war effort. However, a new introduction puts the capture into context, making clear its vital importance in the history of allied codebreaking in World War Two.
The Secret Corps: A Thriller
by Peter TelepA FAST-PACED THRILLER WHOSE CHARACTERS REPRESENT THE COURAGE, HONOR, AND COMMITMENT OF A GREAT NATIONThe marines have landed (finally) in the genre...stand by for action!"—Captain Dale Dye, USMC (Ret) Marine, Author, Actor and FilmmakerWhen a small town terrorist invasion results in a tragic death, retired Marine Master Sergeant James "Johnny" Johansen agonizes over questions whose answers threaten his loved ones, his career, and his company. The most serious question of all—is Johnny's family linked to Islamic extremists in the United States?Johnny turns to his former brothers-in-arms, Willie, Corey, and Josh. Relying on their skills as highly trained marines, the team uncovers a treacherous plot involving renegade defense contractor and co-conspirators at the highest levels of U.S. intelligence. Risking their lives to reveal the shocking details of the operation, Johnny and his friends discover that hundreds of terrorists are poised to launch a coast-to-cast attack on American soil.Time is running out! Who can Johnny trust? No one, except...the Secret Corps.
The Secret Elephant: The true story of an extraordinary wartime friendship
by Ellan RankinDiscover the unbreakable bond between a baby elephant and her keeper in this heartfelt narrative set against the backdrop of World War II.As war looms on the horizon, things are changing at the zoo. Before, screeching monkeys dangled in trees, roaring lions sunbathed on the dusty ground and sniffling meerkats patrolled. But now, people have stopped visiting and there is talk of a great war.As bombs begin to fall and huge blasts echo around the zoo, a baby elephant and her keeper sneak to the safety and comfort of the keeper's home. Here, they weather out the worst of the war together in secret. But what will happen when their secret is found out?Based on the incredible true story of Denise Weston Austin at Belfast Zoo, this heartfelt narrative of their unlikely bond is brought beautifully to life by exciting debut talent and recent Cambridge MA graduate, Ellan Rankin.
The Secret Genesis of Area 51 (Military Ser.)
by TD BarnesThe man &“who has done more than anyone to lift the veil of secrecy . . . about what&’s unfolded out there in the desert&” reveals the origins of Area 51 (KLAS 8 News Now). In 1955, the Central Intelligence Agency established a clandestine base of operations in the Nevada desert with a mission to protect the United States from a growing communist threat. Special projects at Area 51 were shrouded in mystery, and the first was one of the world&’s most famous spy planes, the U-2. It fueled half-truths, rumors and legends for more than half a century. Now with many details of that endeavor declassified, the real story can finally be told. Author and Area 51 veteran TD Barnes sifts fact from fiction in one of America&’s most protected origin stories.
The Secret Glass
by Beryl Bainbridge"In the dark places of her mind they spoke to one another tenderly, talking about the future, how they loved each other. He would say: "You're pretty as a picture, you're lovely as a rose garden" But he said nothing. And in his cool untroubled eyes she saw an absence of warmth as if he didn't yet realize he had been waiting all his life to find her.... A gothic tale about the loyal, yet destructive ties of an English family.
The Secret Guests: A Novel
by Benjamin Black"When you're done binge-watching The Crown, pick up this multifaceted wartime thriller." —Kirkus ReviewsAs London endures nightly German bombings, Britain’s secret service whisks the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from England, seeking safety for the young royals on an old estate in Ireland.Ahead of the German Blitz during World War II, English parents from every social class sent their children to the countryside for safety, displacing more than three million young offspring. In The Secret Guests, the British royal family takes this evacuation a step further, secretly moving the princesses to the estate of the Duke of Edenmore in “neutral” Ireland. A female English secret agent, Miss Celia Nashe, and a young Irish detective, Garda Strafford, are assigned to watch over “Ellen” and “Mary” at Clonmillis Hall. But the Irish stable hand, the housemaid, the formidable housekeeper, the Duke himself, and other Irish townspeople, some of whom lost family to English gunshots during the War of Independence, go freely about their business in and around the great house. Soon suspicions about the guests’ true identities percolate, a dangerous boredom sets in for the princesses, and, within and without Clonmillis acreage, passions as well as stakes rise.Benjamin Black, who has good information that the princesses were indeed in Ireland for a time during the Blitz, draws readers into a novel as fascinating as the nascent career of Miss Nashe, as tender as the homesickness of the sisters, as intriguing as Irish-English relations during WWII, and as suspenseful and ultimately action-packed as war itself.
The Secret Heir of Sunset Ranch
by Charlene SandsA war hero returns to a secret baby surprise in this Slades of Sunset Ranch novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Charlene Sands Back from his tour of duty, wealthy Nevada rancher Justin Slade gets the shock of his life. The woman who shared his bed eighteen months ago is in his hometown with a son in tow...who looks just like Justin! Katherine Grady is hiding a dark past, but when she realizes Justin seduced her under false pretenses, she's livid...even if she still finds him as irresistible as ever. Will their secrets keep them apart, or will her hero fight for what's his?
The Secret History of Audrey James
by Heather MarshallThe #1 bestselling author of Looking for Jane returns with a poignant, gripping novel about a pianist in Berlin on the cusp of WWII and the choices she makes that echo across generations.Sometimes the best place to hide is the last place anyone would look. Northern England, 2010 After a tragic accident upends her life, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border, where she hopes to find a fresh start and heal from her loss. When she arrives, she begins to unravel the truth about her past, but discovers the mysterious elderly proprietor is harbouring her own secrets… Berlin, 1938 Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin, where she&’s been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. As she prepares to finish her piano studies, Audrey dreads the thought of returning to her father in England and leaving Ilse behind. Families like the Kaplans are being targeted, and the stakes grow higher by the day. Restrictions tighten, the borders close to Jews, and rumours swirl about people being apprehended in the street and shipped off to work camps. When Ilse&’s parents and brother suddenly disappear, two high-ranking Nazi party members confiscate the Kaplans&’ upscale home, believing it to be empty. In a desperate attempt to keep Ilse safe, Audrey becomes housekeeper for the officers while Ilse is forced into hiding in the attic—a prisoner in her own home. As war in Europe threatens, it isn&’t long before a shocking turn of events pushes Audrey to become embroiled in cell of the anti-Hitler movement: clusters of resisters working to bring down the Nazis from within Germany itself. But resistance comes with risk, and before the war is over, Audrey must decide what matters most: saving herself, her friend, or sacrificing everything for the greater good. Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during WWII, this is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.
The Secret History of Audrey James
by Heather MarshallAn astonishing historical novel of one woman&’s dangerous journey through World War II Germany and her life-changing friendship with a young woman decades later—from the #1 international bestselling author of Looking for Jane&“A fascinating and moving story of courage, sacrifice, and friendship.&”—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost NamesNorthern England, 2010. After a tragic accident upends her life, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border, where she hopes to find a fresh start and heal from her loss. When she arrives, she begins to unravel the truth about her past, but discovers that the mysterious elderly proprietor is harboring secrets of her own.Berlin, 1938. Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin, where she&’s been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. As war looms, Ilse&’s family disappears and high-ranking Nazi officers confiscate the house. In desperation, Audrey becomes their housekeeper while Ilse is forced into hiding in the attic. When a shocking turn of events embroils Audrey in the anti-Hitler movement, she must decide what matters most: protecting those she loves, or sacrificing everything for the greater good.Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during World War II, The Secret History of Audrey James is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.
The Secret History of MI6: 1909-1949
by Keith JefferyBritain 's Special Intelligence Service, commonly called MI6, is not only the oldest and most storied foreign intelligence unit in the world-it is also the only one to open its archives to an outside researcher. The result, in this authorized history, is an unprecedented and revelatory look at an organization that essentially created, over the course of two world wars, the modern craft of spying. Examining innovations from invisible ink and industrial-scale cryptography to dramatic setbacks like the Nazi sting operations to bag British operatives, this groundbreaking history is as engrossing as any thriller-and much more revealing.
The Secret History of RDX: The Super-Explosive that Helped Win World War II
by Colin F. BaxterThe noted historian offers &“a compelling sociohistorical account of an often overlooked yet critical&” WWII explosive twice as powerful as TNT (Choice).During the early years of World War II, American ships crossing the Atlantic were virtually defenseless against German U-boats. Bombs and torpedoes fitted with TNT barely dented the hulls of Axis naval vessels. Then, seemingly overnight, a top-secret manufacturing plant appeared near Kingsport, Tennessee, producing a sugar-white substance called Research Department Explosive, code name RDX.Twice as deadly as TNT and overshadowed only by the atomic bomb, RDX proved to be pivotal in the Battle of the Atlantic and directly contributed to the Allied victory in WWII. In The Secret History of RDX, Colin F. Baxter documents the journey of the super-explosive from conceptualization at Woolwich Arsenal in England to mass production at Holston Ordnance Works in east Tennessee. Baxter examines the debates between RDX advocates and their opponents and explores the use of the explosive in the bomber war over Germany, in the naval war in the Atlantic, and as a key element in the trigger device of the atomic bomb.Drawing on archival records and interviews with individuals who worked at the Kingsport &“powder plant,&” Baxter illuminates both the explosive&’s military significance and its impact on the lives of ordinary Americans involved in the war industry. Much more than a technical account, this study assesses the social and economic impact of the military-industrial complex on small communities on the home front.
The Secret History of Soldiers: How Canadians Survived the Great War
by Tim CookThere have been thousands of books on the Great War, but most have focused on commanders, battles, strategy, and tactics. Less attention has been paid to the daily lives of the combatants, how they endured the unimaginable conditions of industrial warfare: the rain of shells, bullets, and chemical agents. In The Secret History of Soldiers, Tim Cook, Canada's foremost military historian, examines how those who survived trench warfare on the Western Front found entertainment, solace, relief, and distraction from the relentless slaughter. These tales come from the soldiers themselves, mined from the letters, diaries, memoirs, and oral accounts of more than five hundred combatants. Rare examples of trench art, postcards, and even song sheets offer insight into a hidden society that was often irreverent, raunchy, and anti-authoritarian. Believing in supernatural stories was another way soldiers shielded themselves from the horror. While novels and poetry often depict the soldiers of the Great War as mere victims, this new history shows how the soldiers pushed back against the grim war, refusing to be broken in the mincing machine of the Western Front. The violence of war is always present, but Cook reveals the gallows humour the soldiers employed to get through it. Over the years, both writers and historians have overlooked this aspect of the men's lives. The fighting at the front was devastating, but behind the battle lines, another layer of life existed, one that included songs, skits, art, and soldier-produced newspapers.With his trademark narrative abilities and an unerring eye for the telling human detail, Cook has created another landmark history of Canadian military life as he reveals the secrets of how soldiers survived the carnage of the Western Front.