1914-1918 Voices & Images of the Great War

Rating:
Summary: An incomplete oral history
Review: "Voices & Images of the Great War" was great idea. The formula of presenting first-hand accounts of the experience of war has worked well for such authors as Cornelius Ryan (Longest Day, and A Bridge Too Far). But acclaimed World War I authority Lyn MacDonald proved to me that she should stick to her day job of writing straight history.

First of all it should be noted that despite the ambitious (or ambiguous) title, the scope is rather limited for this work. Except for two Germans and one American liaison officer, one finds here only the words of soldiers from the British Empire - and only on the western front. I have no problem with that per se, but there are alot of voices - French, German, American, civilian - and images left out. Actually, a narrow focus is preferred. Oral histories are nearly impossible to produce on a large scale and are much more effective when they focus on specific battles or campaigns such as D-Day or Iwo Jima. I think to write a book like this also requires more journalistic training than Ms. MacDonald appears to have.

As written, the book moves chronologically through the war and each event is retold sometimes through personal narratives, sometimes through letters. In true military fashion, we are given name, rank and unit of each man, but beyond that we are not introduced. After reading each entry, one often wonders what happened to these letter-writers, whether they survived the war or what they made of their lives after. One isn't rewarded. The images mentioned in the title are present, but there are not very many and they are unlabeled. The result is confusing because you aren't sure whether the photo is the actual image of the writer or merely representative. On infrequent occasions the photos are tilted to one side or the other, lending an air of the scrapbook.

Despite all of this book's shortcomings, the stories are there and they speak with undeniable clarity. If you purchase this book do it for these great men.

Rating:
Summary: MacDonald's "Voices and Images" Speaks Volumes
Review: "Voices & Images of the Great War" was great idea. The formula of presenting first-hand accounts of the experience of war has worked well for such authors as Cornelius Ryan (Longest Day, and A Bridge Too Far). But acclaimed World War I authority Lyn MacDonald proved to me that she should stick to her day job of writing straight history.

First of all it should be noted that despite the ambitious (or ambiguous) title, the scope is rather limited for this work. Except for two Germans and one American liaison officer, one finds here only the words of soldiers from the British Empire - and only on the western front. I have no problem with that per se, but there are alot of voices - French, German, American, civilian - and images left out. Actually, a narrow focus is preferred. Oral histories are nearly impossible to produce on a large scale and are much more effective when they focus on specific battles or campaigns such as D-Day or Iwo Jima. I think to write a book like this also requires more journalistic training than Ms. MacDonald appears to have.

As written, the book moves chronologically through the war and each event is retold sometimes through personal narratives, sometimes through letters. In true military fashion, we are given name, rank and unit of each man, but beyond that we are not introduced. After reading each entry, one often wonders what happened to these letter-writers, whether they survived the war or what they made of their lives after. One isn't rewarded. The images mentioned in the title are present, but there are not very many and they are unlabeled. The result is confusing because you aren't sure whether the photo is the actual image of the writer or merely representative. On infrequent occasions the photos are tilted to one side or the other, lending an air of the scrapbook.

Despite all of this book's shortcomings, the stories are there and they speak with undeniable clarity. If you purchase this book do it for these great men.

Rating:
Summary: MacDonald's "Voices and Images" Speaks Volumes
Review: This one book is what led me to become a Lyn MacDonald fan who has eagerly collected and read each one of her books as they became available. She is one of the foremost experts on the WWI and as such, has brought to life in this one volume, the stories of the men who risked all in this long ago conflict.

This book is dedicated to the individual soldier and the collective experience. As such, it is not straight history and is all the more compelling for it. If you are looking for something more detailed, this is not the book for you.

What this book does offer is glimpses into the lives and deaths of the soldiers who participated. From heroes who won the Victoria Cross to deserters who were shot at dawn, each tale, snapshot or drawing provides a vivid introduction to the personal aspect of war.