To Arras, 1917: A Volunteer's Odyssey by Walter Reid

To Arras, 1917: A Volunteer's Odyssey by Walter Reid is a memoir of a British soldier who was killed in the first world war. Actually calling it a memoir might be pushing it somewhat there isn't that much about the soldier more his family and the Times that he lived. I get the feeling that the author wanted to do a full-blown biography but was unable to come across enough material. Most of the usual elements in historical works on this era are present. The positive thinking Victorians dumped into a conflict that would make them and us cynical.

Nothing terribly innovative here but interesting all the same.

Is available through Abebooks.