ollydot Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 Tesco's have the above for £7.15 at present and I wondered if it was worth the read. Seems to be about dispelling myths....? Anyone read it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmac Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 Try this thread: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...blood+poppycock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkes Lamb Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 The book is considered by some to be controversial, however at that price buy it, its a good read! Gordon Corrigan is quite a character-I enjoyed the book as much as I enjoy listening to him! I used to work with him when he guided several Holts Battlefield Tours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 A good read and worth it at that price. Nothing wrong with a differing view to expand your your knowledge and get you thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 Any book on the subject is worth reading - even if you come away thinking it's rubbish. I enjoyed some parts but didn't like others. On the whole it's one of the few books I could happily lose off my shelf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 A search of this sub-forum on "poppycock" will find you over 20 previous threads - some with extensive discussions. I can't think of aything new to add to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 My opinions only - a commercial rather than academic writer, hence he writes for shock and controversy to sell a few more books. I sometimes doubt he believes what he writes himself! Uses secondary sources so you wont find any new material but a regurgitation of old. Personally I would spend my money on something else, but its up to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkes Lamb Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 Interesting comment about nothing new! Lets face it, as the authors of todays books were not around during the GT War, they rely mainly on what they can dig up in libraries and archives etc., so unless they find something that has been hidden away and not previously published, the chances are that whey will not have anything new to write and therefore the only way they can add something different is to stir up the facts with something controvercial! I am a great fan of Richard Holmes however if you read his books they tend to be made up of quotes from other volumes or archives interspersed with his own opinions or a few one liners! Academic works tend to bore me, therefore I like the "commercial style"-lets face it, if we could make a few bob from our hobbies I doubt if we would turn our noses up! Having worked and socialised with Gordon Corrigan, I think he provides great entertainment value and he certainly is no bulls****er - he believes in what he writes (right or wrong) and prints it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 27 March , 2008 Share Posted 27 March , 2008 Having ... socialised with Gordon Corrigan ... Me too! Met him on several occassions - very likeable and colourful as you would imagine. Discussed military history with him, read his books, heard him present/lecture, watched his documentaries. Formed my opinion of his professional writing. Regards, Jonathan S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Martin Posted 28 March , 2008 Share Posted 28 March , 2008 I picked up a copy of Corrigan's Mud, Blood and Poppycock last year with great hesitation, as the edition I bought had a statement prominantly displayed on the front cover that proclaimed "This will overturn everything you though you knew about Britain and the First World War." I found little if anything in the book that was new or challanging to my understanding of the war. To me it seems that the bulk of his "evidence" which he proclaimed did not support the popular view of the First World War had already been stated by historians writing decades earlier such as John Terraine, Correlli Barnett, Gary Sheffield, Tony Ashworth, Peter Simkins and others. In his discussion of the learning curve for the British in the wake of the Somme and the specialization of troops says nothing that Tony Ashworth or Bill Rawlings didn't in their works published in the 80's. Likewise his statement that there was no 'Lost Generation' was not groundbreaking, as Correlli Barnett very convincingly argued this in "The Collapse of British Power" in 1972. That being said his introduction was interesting and the book was well written but for me it fell well short of the mark and I'd be hard pressed to recomend as a solid book on the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollydot Posted 28 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 28 March , 2008 If nothing else has convinced my to buy the book, it's the diverse opinions of others in this forum. So I'll get Mr Tesco to deliver to my door and get my points. Thanks for all the comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 28 March , 2008 Share Posted 28 March , 2008 You won't regret it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxy Posted 29 March , 2008 Share Posted 29 March , 2008 I enjoyed it - but you have to have a few pinches of salt available! eg he suggests that Noel Chavasse should have been subject to a Court Martial rather than the award of the VC!! Well worth £7.15 IMHO Roxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkes Lamb Posted 30 March , 2008 Share Posted 30 March , 2008 That certainly is a controvercial statement-heaven help any squaddy sent before the "Galloping Major" on a fizzer! Having said that, I met many Ghurkhas who served under him (Corrigan) and they worshipped the ground he walked on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 30 March , 2008 Share Posted 30 March , 2008 My opinions only - a commercial rather than academic writer, hence he writes for shock and controversy to sell a few more books. I sometimes doubt he believes what he writes himself! Uses secondary sources so you wont find any new material but a regurgitation of old. Personally I would spend my money on something else, but its up to you. Would listen to him talk for hours, very colourful etc, would love to talk to him over a pint. But would def check his facts and figures before I used him as a source! Me and Jon in agreement, blimey the world has gone mad! However on the book, not read it, but would think that it will make you ask questions, which in my opinion is all part of the learning process. Regards Arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 30 March , 2008 Share Posted 30 March , 2008 I met many Ghurkhas who served under him (Corrigan) and they worshipped the ground he walked on! That I can believe having met the chap he does have a certain charisma about him, the sort you would follow over the top. regards Arm Ps his book on the Indian Corps is very good, from the bits I have dipped into, and definately worth a purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heid the Ba Posted 30 March , 2008 Share Posted 30 March , 2008 I enjoyed it - but you have to have a few pinches of salt available! eg he suggests that Noel Chavasse should have been subject to a Court Martial rather than the award of the VC!! Well worth £7.15 IMHO Roxy I don't think he mentions Chavasse, I think it is the aussie who was up for a second VC he criticises for lack of posting of sentries and general command failures. Well worth reading, as has been said even if you don't agree it crystalises some of the contentious points. ETA: Albert Jacka is the Australian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollydot Posted 31 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 31 March , 2008 Once again to all who to an interest. Mr Tesco tells me book is en route so looks like I'm about to find out for myself.. Should have read thanks to all who took an interest...early mornings ugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxy Posted 31 March , 2008 Share Posted 31 March , 2008 Heid the Ba', Corrigan does indeed mention Jacka and that 'he must take the blame for the defenders being caught by surprise'. However, he does also mention Chavasse and that 'this author, cynical old soldier that he may be, cannot help but reflect that if he had been Chavasse's Commanding officer, then he might have awarded a rocket rather than the Victoria Cross' Roxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heid the Ba Posted 1 April , 2008 Share Posted 1 April , 2008 Thanks for the correction Roxy, I didn't have the book to hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxy Posted 1 April , 2008 Share Posted 1 April , 2008 No problems. I had forgotten the references to Jacka. All, I think, part of Maj Corrigan's writing style! Roxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnorthall Posted 9 April , 2008 Share Posted 9 April , 2008 Nearly finished - Lloyd George is getting a good "working over" as I read. It seems that Major Corrigan is getting one back for Haig, Rawlinson et al. I have enjoyed the writing style even if I haven't always agreed with the sentiments. Suppose the major would put that down to me being a 'civvy'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 9 April , 2008 Share Posted 9 April , 2008 That I can believe having met the chap he does have a certain charisma about him, the sort you would follow over the top. regards Arm Glad to hear that. I`ve never met him but found him rather humourless & hectoring talking to camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 9 April , 2008 Share Posted 9 April , 2008 I have had Corrigan's book, " Sepoys in the Trenches" for a while and this thread has encouraged me to start on it. Just getting into it now and I am enjoying it so far. I quite like his style but content is more important to me and I will reserve judgement on that until I am finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 9 April , 2008 Share Posted 9 April , 2008 I don't think you will be disappointed on that score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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