Overview

A monumental new history of British conflict, publishing for the eightieth anniversary of VE Day'Impressive. A hundred individual histories, skillfully assembled, built into a poignant meditation on why they still matter' David Olusoga 'Brilliant' Piers Morgan Published for the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War Two, this moving book examines the inspirations and individuals behind our memorial-studded country. Acclaimed historian Tessa Dunlop travels the length and breadth of the United Kingdom on a quest to uncover a story of national warring and national mourning, of fighting each other and of fighting together. In so doing, Lest We Forget summons a stellar cast of veterans, military experts and families of the fallen to reveal what our monuments and war heroes say about us, both then and now. Why did Scotland take nearly 600 years to commemorate its most famous freedom fighter? When did Wellington become anti-Establishment? Who are the Glorious Dead? Can the Cenotaph stay above politics? And how do you commemorate contested, asymmetrical wars? Through veteran testimony and contemporary voices like Falklands hero Simon Weston and HRH The Duke of Kent, Tessa brings to life the pride and the pain involved in commemorating 2,000 years of war and peace across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales in a monumental British story. Lest We Forget, freedom is not free. 'In this wonderfully incisive, moving and timely book about commemoration, Dunlop breathes life into 100 British monuments – some famous, others less so – that together reveal our island story. A stunning achievement.' Saul David

Full Product Details

9780008713140

Table of Contents

Reviews

Praise for the work of Tessa Dunlop… 'Thrilling, gripping and often painfully moving.' Professor Kate Williams 'Wise, witty, compassionate and personal: Tessa Dunlop writes just the best kind of history.' Lucy Worsley OBE 'Fascinating and joyful.' Jonathan Coe 'I was gripped from the first page.' Jeremy Vine 'A fresh and original approach.' Hugo Vickers 'Wonderfully fresh.' Alan Titchmarsh MBE 'A wonderful blend of British history with individual stories.' Reader's Digest

Praise for Tessa's work… 'Thrilling, gripping and often painfully moving.' Kate Williams 'Wise, witty, compassionate and personal: Tessa Dunlop writes just the best kind of history.' Lucy Worsley 'Fascinating and joyful.' Jonathan Coe 'I was gripped from the first page.' Jeremy Vine 'A fresh and original approach.' Hugo Vickers 'Wonderfully fresh.' Alan Titchmarsh 'Fascinating … touching.' Financial Times 'Lively.' New Statesman 'Engaging.' Daily Mail 'Unique.' The Bookseller 'Succeeds in weaving a rich tapestry of experiences.' The Independent 'Charming … poignant.' Publishers Weekly

'A timely and revealing book. A truly enlightening look at the wonderful stories of some of our most iconic and recognisable monuments.' John Nichol 'In this wonderfully incisive, moving and timely book about commemoration, Dunlop breathes life into 100 British monuments – some famous, others less so – that together reveal our island story. A stunning achievement.' Saul David 'Travel, memory and landscape are beguilingly blended in Dunlop’s fabulously readable journey through Britain and its history. Statues here aren’t lumps of metal or stone, but poignant and human stories.' Lucy Worsley 'A triumph: sharp, stylish, witty, very engagingly written. Full of touching interviews with ordinary people, the book is written with a light touch but is profound and at times very moving. A pleasure to read, and to learn from.' Michael Wood ‘A remarkable, thought-provoking journey through Britain’s war memorials, expertly told by Tessa Dunlop. With her trademark insight and flair, she unearths the stories behind our monuments, challenging us to rethink how we remember war and peace. A must-read.’ Iain Dale 'Dunlop uses monuments as prisms through which she splits the history of memorialisation into the dazzling spectrum of the British way of war, the stories of those impacted by it, and our complex relationships with all three. Infinitely more than the sum of its parts, this is a beautifully rendered and detailed piece of work.' Lindsey Fitzharris 'Tessa writes intimately, authoritatively and animatedly. The statues featured are from all classes, races and faiths. Most British historians fail to capture the multiplicities of the nation’s histories. This, lively, readable book does that with style and aplomb.' Yasmin Alibhai-Brown ‘A fascinating insight into Britain’s troubled and bloody past, brought to life by Tessa Dunlop’s erudite prose.' Iolo Williams

Author Information

Dr Tessa Dunlop is an award-winning broadcaster, historian, and author. Her previous books include Sunday Times best-selling The Century Girls, The Bletchley Girls, Army Girls and Elizabeth and Philip. She has featured in numerous historical and royal documentaries on the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and is co-host of the podcast Where Politics Meets History. Tessa started life in the Central Highlands of Scotland and now lives in London with her family.

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