Riding the Retreat

[Steven Broomfield]

In case anyone is interested and din't know, Richard Holmes' book is available in paperback. I saw it this afternoon in Borders in Southampton.

£8.99 (I think), published by Pimlico.

[MartinWills]

It came out in paperback not long after the hardback - quite some time ago.

[Steven Broomfield]

Well, it's still available, and this has a 'new' Introduction to the 2007 edition!

[Muerrisch]

One of the best books in our area ever ............ mixing academic accuracy with a rollicking story of [from memory] five men and several horses .......... quite fascinating.

Unfortunately, my Met. Police Riding Instructor daughter seems to have it on permanent loan!

[Crunchy]

Agreed.

A really good read and highly recommended. Blends a ride undertaken by the author in the 1990's through the countryside covered in the retreat from Mons with a potted history of the actions that took place in 1914.

Get a copy, you won't be disappointed.

[auchonvillerssomme]

theres a few here starting at 4 quid

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchRe...=0&sortby=3

Mick

[Steven Broomfield]

Unfortunately, my Met. Police Riding Instructor daughter seems to have it on permanent loan!

Buy yourself a copy for her next birthday

[spike10764]

I concur with the above "get a copy you won't be disappointed"

A really good read ( and I've just re read it and found it even better than I recalled) part history lesson part travelogue....

[Muerrisch]

Buy yourself a copy for her next birthday

Daft idea: she can keep it, I'll have the new one!

[MartinWills]

I seem to recall an interesting commentary on French beverages runs through the volume......

[squirrel]

Wife got it half price when she bought some other book last week.

Really looking forward to reading it.................eventually!

[paul guthrie]

Just read it , terrific, good especially about the horses and French people they met because of them.

[squirrel]

Sharpening their knives and getting the frying pan on were they?

[Muerrisch]

can't beat a nice fricadella.

With frites and mayo.

[wilkokcl]

Having just read this book I can highly recommend it - an excellent read with historical details broken up with amusing details of their journey (which seems to involve lots of stopping in French villages for glasses of wine!).

Buy it now.

Mark

[stevem49]

can't beat a nice fricadella.

With frites and mayo.

luxury

[Muerrisch]

and the new edition has just arrived.

[IanA]

Thanks to this thread I am now halfway through it. A highly enjoyable read with some interesting asides. I had no idea that horse fodder outweighed shells!

[Muerrisch]

being hit by processed horse fodder is very nasty

[Ciaran Byrne]

Just bought it for £4... bargain schmargain.

I'll let you know what I think when I've read it.

[paul guthrie]

Just bought it for £4... bargain schmargain.

I'll let you know what I think when I've read it.

I know what you will think before you do... terrific.

[John_Hartley]

I seem to be alone in not being overly impressed with the book, which I've just finished.

I'm normally reticient about being critical of things (like book-writing) for which I have no talent, so perhaps I'll limit myself to a suggestion that Holmes' ability to tell a tale has improved over the years since 1995.

Was there a TV programme of the book? Or one intended? The actual riding bit seemed to suggest that this was the slant - camera worthy shots of Holmes on horseback waving his arm towards fields of stubble. That sort of thing.

John

[Len Trim]

Hi,

just finished rereading this. An excellent book. A man after my own heart. An adventurous day out and a good drink at night, good companionship and a lot of information about the make up of battalions and their trials and tribulations over the first few weeks of the war. Highly recommended.

Len

[Ciaran Byrne]

I read this whilst on holiday and found it a great read. Very dry humour and also very informative. I really enjoyed it.