Duncan Youel

The Somme, Then and Now -- A Visual History, is a handsome book filled mostly with old and new photographs, maps, and compact sections of text for each topic. Published by Dorling Kindersley/DK, the book is “A commemorative edition for the ninetieth anniversary of the Battle of the Somme,” and it was published through the cooperation of the Imperial War Museum, the War Graves Commission, and others.

A little over half of the book consists of page after page of historic and present-day photos, together with commentary on each of the Somme battles. I found this section to be very good overall. The basic tactics and movements of each battle are described, the military divisions involved are identified, and there is information on losses and casualties. Each has a map that helps to clarify what happened. There are a number of well-chosen and poignant quotations from eyewitness accounts highlighted throughout the book, as well.

The second part of the book focuses on the efforts of a number of individuals to keep the history of the Somme alive. These include cemetery and museum curators and developers, historians, a man who provides helicopter tours, innkeepers, and even the mayor of the French village of Thiepval. This section also includes many old and new photos; of special interest is a foldout then and now panorama using contemporary Army photos, with recent photos taken from the same vantage points. The main commemorative monuments, cemeteries, and museums are highlighted. I have to say, though, that the purpose of the second part of the book seems to be to encourage tourism. While every aspect of the Somme is treated respectfully, it is nevertheless jarring to have read through all of the grim realities of Somme battles in part one, and then to be presented with large color portraits of people who devote their time to preserving the memory of the Somme, worthy though that is.

There is a third part of the book, as well -- a DVD which promises archive footage and interviews. The best feature of this is a short and fascinating bit of old film that was taken just before the battle. The rest of the DVD focuses heavily on present-day interviews with the people that are featured in part two of the book. I was disappointed in the DVD, as I’d hoped to see archival interviews with WWI veterans.

My recommendations on this book are mixed. The first section gives a clear and useful overview of the many battles fought on the Somme. This is worth a look for the general reader, though the text does not present new insights, and I expect that most of this material is covered better in other books. A number of the photographs are worth seeing, and some of the then/now photography is very interesting. I think that much of the second section is too touristy, and I could have done without it. However, for readers planning a trip to the Somme, the second section could well be very helpful.… (plus d'informations)