Mud, Blood and Poppycock

The popular view of the First World War remains that of 'Blackadder': incompetent generals sending brave soldiers to their deaths. Alan Clark quoted a German general's remark that the British soldiers were 'lions led by donkeys'. But he made it up. Indeed, many established 'facts' about 1914-18 turn out to be myths woven in the 1960s by young historians on the make. Gordon Corrigan's brilliant, witty new history reveals how out of touch we have become with the soldiers of 1914-18. They simply would not recognize the way their generation is depicted on TV or in Pat Barker's novels. Laced with dry humour, this will overturn everything you thought you knew about Britain and the First World War. Gordon Corrigan reveals how the British embraced technology, and developed the weapons and tactics to break through the enemy trenches.

“A fascinating read because he sets it up as a trial by jury. Each chapter takes a specific 'myth' of the Great War and subjects it to a test of evidence. The result - even if you want to disagree with Corrigan's overall thesis - is gripping-- SCOTSMAN”

'Corrigan brings a mass of evidence coupled with an ability to write clear, crisp, highly readable narrative...Mud, Blood and Poppycock should be in every school library' - Correlli Barnett, DAILY MAIL

'A fascinating read because he sets it up as a trial by jury. Each chapter takes a specific 'myth' of the Great War and subjects it to a test of evidence. The result - even if you want to disagree with Corrigan's overall thesis - is gripping' - George Kerevan, SCOTSMAN

The author was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in 1962 and retired from the Brigade of Gurkhas in 1998. He is a member of the British Commission for Military History and a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.

THIS WILL OVERTURN EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ABOUT BRITAIN AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR Mud, Blood and Poppycock re-examines the old myths of incompetence and unnecessary slaughter that have coloured the popular view of the First World War. In so doing, Gordon Corrigan may well shatter precious libertarian illusions, but in explaining what war is really about, how an army does its work, and by examining the facts he overturns myths and legends and gets to the truth. British casualty rates were high, but less than those of France and Germany, and there was no 'lost generation'. Gordon Corrigan, a retired officer of the Royal Gurkha Rifles and a noted military historian, has fashioned a case for the revisionist view of the First World War which is devastating trial by evidence. 'A clear, crisp, highly readable narrative' Daily Mail

The popular view of the First World War remains that of 'Blackadder': incompetent generals sending brave soldiers to their deaths. Alan Clark quoted a German general's remark that the British soldiers were 'lions led by donkeys'. But he made it up. Indeed, many established 'facts' about 1914-18 turn out to be myths woven in the 1960s by young historians on the make. Gordon Corrigan's brilliant, witty new history reveals how out of touch we have become with the soldiers of 1914-18. They simply would not recognize the way their generation is depicted on TV or in Pat Barker's novels. Laced with dry humour, this will overturn everything you thought you knew about Britain and the First World War. Gordon Corrigan reveals how the British embraced technology, and developed the weapons and tactics to break through the enemy trenches.

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