andigger Posted 15 May , 2006 Share Posted 15 May , 2006 I am just finishing up this book and I thought it was a great summary of the opening weeks of the war with an easy to follow recounting of the plans and movements of the BEF and French army. The book also gave good insight into the struggles between Lanrezac and Joffre as well as Kitchner and French. At times it seemed that Terraine became bit of a cheerleader for the BEF rather ackowledge some failings in leadership. On balance though it might just be my perception rather than the way it was. I woudl definitely recommend this book as a great introduction to the fighting in 1914. Has anyone else read it, and what do you think? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 15 May , 2006 Share Posted 15 May , 2006 Now read Edward, or is it Edwin Spears Liaison 1914 to see what the French were thinking at same time, great book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 15 May , 2006 Share Posted 15 May , 2006 I'd agree with Paul there Andy, Retreat to Victory is one side of the story and Liaison 1914 is a good accompanying book to give the french viewpoint- try and get hold of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Dunlop Posted 15 May , 2006 Share Posted 15 May , 2006 Yes, Edward Spears' book is a fabulous read. Crafted like a high quality mystery/novel. Gripping. If you want a different view of the BEF High Command, try 'Trial by Fire'. Von Kluck's book will give you a German perspective. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 15 May , 2006 Share Posted 15 May , 2006 Glad to see others love this book, I re-read the great ones, this one 3 times so far, it's just gripping though you know the outcome, the tension is there, best of all it's in paperback so won't bankrupture you and real long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Moretti Posted 17 May , 2006 Share Posted 17 May , 2006 At times it seemed that Terraine became bit of a cheerleader for the BEF Seems to me that that was always Terraine's purpose in life. Liaison 1914 is a great book which I really ought to have re-read before now. Spears has a brilliant sense of humour at times; his reference to an elderly bow-legged Frenchman being insulted as "A worm in brackets" and his beautifully understated translation of the screams of a panicked French general, "Nous sommes foutous! Nous sommes foutous!" (Lit. We're all f****ed!, Spears "...politely rendered, means 'we're all doomed'), did much to bring a smile to my face during an otherwise tense and grim book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 17 May , 2006 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2006 Something else I've been meaning to post.... does anyone else's copy have missing text between pages 113 and 114? I have two copies and both seem to have this section missing. Pg 113 ends with a quote, but pg 114 starts in the middle of another paragraph. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATM Posted 4 June , 2006 Share Posted 4 June , 2006 I have those pages missing too. I was rather miffed about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJames Posted 4 June , 2006 Share Posted 4 June , 2006 My copy has (p113) - As on the previous day, the English again vanished without leaving a trace." Unfortunately, the South (->p114) Lancashires, holding on to their positions ... which seems to follow. This is from the Batsford edition. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 4 June , 2006 Author Share Posted 4 June , 2006 pg 113 "For such conduct there is only one punishment: immediate... (pg 114)... not only a long one in point of time, but that time was filled with large events." Wordsworth Edition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJames Posted 4 June , 2006 Share Posted 4 June , 2006 In the Batsford edition p113 (out of 217, not including appendix) is 4 pages after the start of Chapter 6 - The Retreat Begins -. If you give a chapter number I could look to see if the text is included in this version. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 11 March , 2012 Share Posted 11 March , 2012 Is there an index in any edition? I have the Wordsworth Edition too and no index. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkTurner Posted 11 March , 2012 Share Posted 11 March , 2012 John The 1960 Batsford edition has an index. Regards Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill24chev Posted 11 March , 2012 Share Posted 11 March , 2012 I read "Retreat to Victory" and Nloems "Advance from Mons" concurrently, i got them both at a discount book store at the same time. I found Retreat to Viictory an excellent intro to the August/September campaign from the focus of the BEF, Lanseracs 5th army and Joffres planning to reinforce is left flank culminating in the MArne battle. Bloem's book gives tells of the events from the German perspective and from the soldiers actually doing the long grulling marches in the late summer heat. On thbing that stood out for me was how the German soldier's boots wore out on the march and how exhausting it was. Acording to "retreat to victory, the British reserve soldier's boots were nicley broken in and the tommies had gained their fitness. Does this mean British Cows and cobblers were better than their German counterparts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 11 March , 2012 Share Posted 11 March , 2012 John The 1960 Batsford edition has an index. Regards Mark Thanks Mark. Any chance of a scan of the index? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 12 March , 2012 Share Posted 12 March , 2012 John T certainly was a cheerleader for the BEF and for Haig when such an historian was needed. He would smile if he heard you say it. He was a man of strong views and was part of that band of important writers and enthusiasts who looked beyond the bunglers and butcher tag and helped start the process of reavaluation of this nation's war. Not least he was the man who said never forget that was Haig's army which beat the main body of the main army in the main battlefield of the war in relation to the 100 days From memory his book on Mons was written before the release of official documents, and if a liitle dated now, it still stands up to scrutiny well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 12 March , 2012 Share Posted 12 March , 2012 Perhaps it would be fairer to describe John Terraine as a prophet crying in the wilderness. There were very few cheerers to lead when he started. He was the first of the new revisionists. As David says, he did not have access to the data that is now available but his work has stood up very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 14 March , 2012 Share Posted 14 March , 2012 Hi, Any chance someone could scan the index and send me a copy? Thanks John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 22 March , 2012 Share Posted 22 March , 2012 John Terraine's obituary included a reference to the Western Front Association of which, I think, he was a founding member. This lead me to a local group and indirectly to this forum. A fine writer. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 25 March , 2012 Share Posted 25 March , 2012 I guess not then John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 25 March , 2012 Share Posted 25 March , 2012 I am just finishing up this book and I thought it was a great summary of the opening weeks of the war with an easy to follow recounting of the plans and movements of the BEF and French army. The book also gave good insight into the struggles between Lanrezac and Joffre as well as Kitchner and French. At times it seemed that Terraine became bit of a cheerleader for the BEF rather ackowledge some failings in leadership. On balance though it might just be my perception rather than the way it was. I woudl definitely recommend this book as a great introduction to the fighting in 1914. Has anyone else read it, and what do you think? Andy Talking to a well known author (and controversialist) after the dinner at the Tally Ho, I understand that there is a book out next year that will paint a rather different picture about Mons and its place in history. (I think he is already preparing his bomb proof shelter). An old school friend who went through life saddled with the middle names Smith Dorrien (his granddad's wishes) might, from wherever he is,give him a posthumous cheer though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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