BIFFO Posted 25 September , 2012 Share Posted 25 September , 2012 Wipers tim carew pub coronet So ok its not a great history of 1st Ypres regiment by regiment action by action but it’s a dam good read that flows nicely and maybe more important to some its on Abebooks cheap I bought my copy last month and the postage cost more than the book.as a bonus you can donate to gwf Hope this helps some one biff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 25 September , 2012 Share Posted 25 September , 2012 Not a book I like. Flows well as you say and copies are cheap. But a word or two of caution. It is entirely unreferenced, (always suspisious) written before the availabilty of war diaries and after studyin closely I consider unreliable as history. Not least I am convinced that at least one 'personal account' was lifted almost word for word from the transcript of a radio play about Ypres on the BBC (which was broadcast before the book). Not a work I would consider anythingother than seriously flawed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIFFO Posted 25 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 25 September , 2012 Thank you for your valid comments Depends what your looking for a reference book this is not I do not think it purports to be as For cannibalised from other sources seems once you’ve read a few books you see the same thing said with a slight word change. I have read many learned books by respected authors Well referenced down to the nearest nut and bolt they get so bogged down with facts and figures They miss the mark I for one loose interest and put it back to be read later which normally turns out to be never, this I read from beginning to end even the long big words !! Each to there own biff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Evans Posted 25 September , 2012 Share Posted 25 September , 2012 Biff, I'll report back in a few (or more) days. I'm reading it at the moment, but the signs are not looking good. I'm reading it after having recently read Farrar-Hockley, Beckett and Jack's book from the German perspective. I don't know if you've seen Jim's thread here? We've probably cleaned out the surplus copies between us. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Maria Posted 25 September , 2012 Share Posted 25 September , 2012 His other title "The Vanished Army" was the first book on the Great War that i read.A very readable and atmospheric account of the B.E.F in the first few months of the war,and i liked the dust jacket as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 26 September , 2012 Share Posted 26 September , 2012 Cannibalisation - research - plaigarise, plaigarises, let no one's work evade your eyes etc - is one thing. If I am correct the lift from ther play was at least lazy at worst dishonest. That affects my view of an author and his credibility. My views on The Vanished army pretty much match those on Wipers.Farrar Hockleys book was written pre War diary, and some of his views certainly don't chime with my own, but I do think is still a pretty sound worlk (and one by a skilled wrire and by an experienced ex-soldier). If I had to choose an Ypres Book it would be Ian Becket's book on the subject is a far more rounded read.(in my opinion!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 26 September , 2012 Share Posted 26 September , 2012 David - if you didn't like it, you would say, wouldn't you? Seriously, I found carew's boks a good read, but even when I read them (30 years ago?), I was aware that "good read" didn't necessarily equate with "good history". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Maria Posted 26 September , 2012 Share Posted 26 September , 2012 The best thing about The Vanished Army was that after reading it i wanted to find out more about "The old Contemptibles".To be honest, i prefer reading first person testimonies(even with their inaccuracies)to the official histories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 26 September , 2012 Share Posted 26 September , 2012 Broomers, as ever my innate modesty held me back. But Black Maria is absolutely right - if either book persuades people to look deeper into the subject it is worwhile. Infact I read the Carew books early on into my reasearch into 1st Ypres about 30 years ago. There wasn't much else available then and the books did trigger me to look wider. Perhaps if grumpy wan't already grumpy on the forum, I could be grumpy,. Its already what my grandkids call me and one has elevated me to grumpmeister. Its so much more fun than grandpa. But enough of that. Bah, humbug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIFFO Posted 26 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 September , 2012 David as YET I haven’t read the vanished army is there a chance you can give an unbiased Review Biff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil andrade Posted 27 September , 2012 Share Posted 27 September , 2012 As a boy, I read THE VANISHED ARMY in the mid sixties, and was thoroughly captivated. This morning, I discovered WIPERS on my shelves, and I've just browsed through it. I found it embarassing. It's a caricature of cherished mythology. The style's good, and it's fun, but as far as historical accuracy goes, it's about as good as John Wayne's depiction of Davy Crockett and the Alamo. Phil (PJA) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Maria Posted 27 September , 2012 Share Posted 27 September , 2012 His Genghis Khan was very realistic though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 27 September , 2012 Share Posted 27 September , 2012 Biffo - thats a tough one - unbiased moi? Its a long time since I The Vanished Army and my view of Carew became coloured by my more detailed analysis of Wipres. I reckon the two best books on the early stages of BEF actions are Goodbye Leicester Square and the Mons Star (which very sadly is also unreferenced, and has some material I believe genuine, but have been unable to track down). The author destroyed all his papers just before his death according to his brother. Must get back now to sharpening my bias regards David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Hastings Posted 27 September , 2012 Share Posted 27 September , 2012 Morning All, Must admit the Prologue of 'Wipers' did draw me in, as Stephen said above, a good read, but then the historian in me kicked-in: where did he get this about the Colonel? That bed the seed of doubt. F-H's 'Death of an Army' dropped on the doormat the day after ... You can guess the rest. Saying that, I will finish'Wipers' at a later date - "assume what is useful and disregard the rest" as Bruce Lee once said Have a good day Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Evans Posted 3 October , 2012 Share Posted 3 October , 2012 Well I finished "Wipers" and my first impressions haven't changed. It certainly wasn't a good idea to read it after the other three, but curiosity got the better of me. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 5 May , 2021 Share Posted 5 May , 2021 Just found this book at Defence Library... going to give it a go as "easy post-course" reading. But I a warned about the historical value here... thanks for that M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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