Postcards from the Western Front: Pilgrims, Veterans, and Tourists after the Great War

Postcards from the Western Front explores how British visitors to the battlefields of France and Belgium perceived and commemorated these sites during the First World War and in the twenty years following the Armistice. It examines how different sub-communities influenced the depth and strength of the visiting public's relationship with the battlefields, comparing and contrasting this relationship with the viewpoint of the French and Belgian inhabitants. The book is extensively illustrated with black and white photographs and offers a groundbreaking perspective on these landscapes.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

Visitors to the battlefields of France and Belgium experienced a range of emotions, including pain, anguish, pride, nostalgia, and wonder. These sites held a profound significance for the British people, both during the First World War and in the decades that followed. Postcards from the Western Front explores the diverse ways in which these locations were perceived and commemorated by the British public. Mark Connellys comprehensive and engaging study delves into the experiences of visitors to the former Western Front, examining how different sub-communities, such as regional, ethnic, and religious groups, as well as civilians and armed forces, shaped their relationship with the battlefields. Connellys analysis compares and contrasts this relationship with the perspectives of the French and Belgian inhabitants of the devastated regions. Drawing from a vast archive, Connellys study explores a range of interlocking themes, including the enduring impact of the battlefields on the British domestic imagination, the often challenging experiences of visiting these sites, memorials and cemeteries serving as a testament to the realities of war, and the interactions between visitors and the local communities. While the focus is primarily on French and Belgian battlefields, Connellys work also provides insights into other major battlefields fought over by British troops from the Empire.

Postcards from the Western Front is extensively illustrated with black and white photographs, offering a groundbreaking perspective on these landscapes that resonated with visitors of all backgrounds, including tourists, inhabitants, veterans, and pilgrims. The book provides a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience in the context of war, challenging our perceptions and reminding us of the enduring legacy of these battlefields.

Weight: 824g
Dimension: 163 x 235 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228011897