The Great War Magazine

[Gary Samson]

At a recent WFA meeting I picked up a flyer for The Great War magazine from Northern Publishing. Are there any subscribers here? Is it well-written, informative and value for money at GBP 17.99 for an annual subscription? Are there any other regular publications (other than this excellent website and forum, of course) worth considering for someone with a voracious appetite for WWI material and research?

Gary

[paul guthrie]

I subscribed for a year and let it lapse. I did not think it was bad but nowhere near Stand To! And in the US it was expensive.

[Geoff Parker]

Gary

I have just renewed my subscription for another year. Not a bad little magazine.

However to be honest none of the contents have really grabbed me. but that's just me. In fact there have been contents that are just sections from books I already have.

Having said that I dont think you'd be too disappointed if you subscribed for a year.

Geoff

[gem22]

Gary

I've renewed my subscription. Yes it could be better but overall I feel I get value for money.

Garth

[HERITAGE PLUS]

You will get an idea of the content of the magazine on the company's web site:

http://www.greatnorthernpublishing.co.uk/t...e-great-war.htm

[Rosemary Clarke]

At a recent WFA meeting I picked up a flyer for The Great War magazine from Northern Publishing. Are there any subscribers here? Is it well-written, informative and value for money at GBP 17.99 for an annual subscription?

Gary

The merits of TGW were discussed in a thread a little while ago.

I have to declare an interest as a contributor but would answer yes, yes and yes to your questions!

The philosophy of the publishers is to give a voice to all who served and suffered.

It is a non-academic publication, accepting contributions for all who have a story to tell and I think is to be applauded for filling something of gap in the market. Hopefully, it plays it's part in furthering interest in the Great War.

It began as a quarterly but is now produced bi-monthly.

Rosemary

[Alan Seymour]

I fully support this excellent magazine which as Rosemary says goes bi-monthly from September 2003.

Alan Seymour

[Jonathan Saunders]

I have just renewed my subscription and would agree it didnt initially "grab" me in the same way as Stand To! did, but then the last edition of Stand To! wasnt, in my opinion, up to the standard.

It is well worth a try and I am expecting better things after it has gone bi-monthly. Certainly it would have to deteriorate somewhat for me to let my membership lapse.

[Fleur]

Oooh, Me and Mr Fleur subscribe to The Great War mag ... in fact, have just sent off my re-subscription form this morning.

It really is a fab mag, full of interesting articles and not too anoraky (if you get my drift).

If any one is interested Great Northern Publishing have a website you can subscribe from. http://www.greatnorthernpublishing.co.uk

They also publish the Old Bill Newsletter if you have an interest in Bruce Bairnsfather (which me and him in doors do) which is rather good!

http://www.greatnorthernpublishing.co.uk/O...er/Old-Bill.htm

Fleur

[John_Hartley]

I've renewed my subscription as well. I reckon the magazine has a good future. Not least because they've written to our Pal Tom Morgan asking for permision to reprint articles published on his site. Tom has written to the contributors and I am more than happy to see my work in print (he said, without a hint of vanity).

Subscribers will know that Great Northern also has another "interesting" line in publications. S&M meets WW1. Which may prompt Kate Wills into another of her "Sex and the Soldier" posts.

John

[paul guthrie]

I told this story on the old WFA forum but here goes. I was just home from the UK when I got a Visa bill with a charge from Great Northern Pub, Yorkshire. I was pissed off, I had been no where near Yorkshire so I had things investiagated, yes, says I, I spent much time in pubs but not there! Proud of myself fro reading the bill for once. Investigation revealed I had charged a subscription to the magazine! I paid the bill.

[Alan Lines]

Just renewed my subscription. Not as "heavy" as Stand To! and fits nicely into my overall pocket!

[James Brown]

I have just subscribed to the new editions of the magazine, and personaly think it very informative in areas that I would normally "flick past the pages".

Never had the privilage of "Stand To" so hope it stands up to the test of time.

Good value for money as far as i'm concerned, and long may it continue.

James

[Kate Wills]

Subscribers will know that Great Northern also has another "interesting" line in publications. S&M meets WW1. Which may prompt Kate Wills into another of her "Sex and the Soldier" posts.

John

No, you've got the wrong Pal, John. 'Twas not I. However, I think anyone dealing with GWM paperwork should check their order closely, otherwise they may be in for a surprise.

I concur with the general sentiments so far, and we are just about to renew our subscription. It is not exciting, but it does fill a gap in the market, and is an ideal medium for those shorter pieces that would not find a home in WFA publications.

[John_Hartley]

I was just home from the UK when I got a Visa bill with a charge from Great Northern Pub, Yorkshire.

Same thing happened to me, Paul.

I'd recently had a problem with a credit card charge, so when I saw this for the Great Northern Pub, I was on to the bank in a moment. And then spent the next 30 minutes hanging on listening to those welcome noises "your call is in a queue". By the time I got answered I was not a happy bunny and told them that whilst Scarborough is a lovely town, I hadnt been anywhere near it for a couple of years and they better damn well cancel the charge right now!. Which they did.

Three weeks later, phone rings early in the morning. I am asleep (or was). I am even less of a happy bunny when woken by the phone. 'twas the magazine's publisher (no less). Why had I cancelled my payment? Oh, s**t" I thought -having a sudden bout of memory recall. I explained, apologised, told him it truly was a great little magazine which I would recommend to my friends (and have - see above). He said it happened all the time and he'd been trying to get them to do something about it. Couldnt get back to sleep, so surprised work colleagues with an early arrival.

[Muerrisch]

I only had one issue, and was not impressed. To be fair, the thing that least impressed me was the review of my latest book, which was easily the least thorough or erudite or considered of all the reviews I received. I feel that it is very lightweight.

[Gary Samson]

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I must admit to being slightly put off by The Great War magazine simply re-publishing extensive extracts from well-known books and, in particular, from web sites such as Tom's excellent Hellfire Corner to which I am already a frequent visitor (although I would in no way want to deny those authors the enormous and justifiable satisfaction of seeing the result of their painstaking research in print). Perhaps a subscription for a year is the way to go and I'll make up my own mind. I wonder if the publishers offer attractive discounts if you subscribe to some of their 'other' titles? With a merging of the two very different types of publication, it's not difficult to imagine lengthy queues for Field Punishment No. 1!

Thanks again

Gary

[Tom Morgan]

As John already mentioned, the editor of the magazine wrote to me to ask for permission to use "Hellfire Corner" articles. I replied that permission wasn't mine to give and that he would have to ask the authors. I then wrote to the authors to tell them they might get a request.

It will be a shame if the magazine is satisfied at finding a ready source of good articles in this way, and so decides to look no further. You can only go so far by selling copies of articles which the authors have already given away for free availability elsewhere.

This isn't empty criticism. I've renewed my subscription because I think the basic idea of the mag is still worth supporting at present.

Tom

[John_Hartley]

Gary

As a regular you'll know that many of my contributions in Chit Chat are "tongue in cheek" - not least my earlier post about vanity and seeing my article in print.

My two "published" articles already appear in what I consider to be the preeminent place (Hellfire Corner), in terms of having them seen by a wider public. Anything in print is secondary. Tom will always get "first refusal" on my articles for his site.

Incidentally, I've had no approach from the magazine.

I am, however, thinking of trying to write a piece that Great Northern could publish in both parts of its business. I'll let you know how I get on. (Tom: I suspect you might decline that one)

John

[shinglma]

Bringing this old thread back to life. Can anyone tell me there current opinions of this publication?

Thanks in advance

Mike S

[John_Hartley]

Mike

See my post immediately before yours. The only thing that's changed in the two years is that Tom has e-published two more of my articles and Great War Magazine has print-published one (and, yes, I was chuffed to see it). I still subscribe and enjoy the read.

John

[Rosemary Clarke]

The comments in my earlier post are still valid.

John - any progress on the suggested 'dual' contribution? - Could be a winner.

Rosemary