Through Their Eyes: A Graphic History of Hill 70 and Canada's First World War

By the summer of 1917, Canadian troops had captured Vimy Ridge, but Allied offensives had stalled across many fronts of the Great War. To help break the stalemate of trench warfare, the Canadian Corps commander, Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie, was tasked with capturing Hill 70, a German stronghold near the French town of Lens. Through Their Eyes depicts this remarkable but costly victory in a unique way, with full-color graphic artwork and detailed illustrations that picture the battle from different perspectives. This innovative graphic history invites readers to reimagine the First World War through the eyes of those who lived it and to think more deeply about how we visualize and remember the past.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 09 August 2022
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

By the summer of 1917, Canadian troops had successfully captured Vimy Ridge, a significant victory in the Great War. However, Allied offensives across various fronts of the conflict had stagnated. In an effort to break the deadlock of trench warfare, Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie, the commander of the Canadian Corps, was tasked with capturing Hill 70, a German stronghold situated near the French town of Lens.

On August 15, Canadian soldiers bravely secured the hill after enduring relentless shelling, machine-gun fire, and poison gas from the enemy. Despite facing relentless counterattacks, the Canadian troops valiantly repelled them. Through Their Eyes, a unique graphic history book, presents this remarkable but costly victory in a captivating way.

Matthew Barrett and Robert Engen, the authors, have created full-color graphic artwork and detailed illustrations to portray the battle from various perspectives. Currie's strategic view at high command, a junior officer's experience at the platoon level, and the vantage points of many lesser-known Canadian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice are all depicted. This innovative approach allows readers to reimagine the First World War through the eyes of those who lived it and encourages deeper reflection on how we visualize and remember the past.

Combining outstanding original art with thought-provoking commentary, Through Their Eyes offers a fresh perspective on the battle while expanding the ways in which history is shared and represented. The book uncovers fascinating stories behind the conflict while creatively expanding the ways in which history is communicated to readers.

In conclusion, Through Their Eyes is a must-read for anyone interested in history, particularly the First World War. The book's innovative approach and captivating artwork bring the battle to life, allowing readers to experience it from multiple perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made during this pivotal period. Through Their Eyes is a testament to the power of visual storytelling and the importance of preserving and sharing our collective history.

Weight: 1388g
Dimension: 262 x 188 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228010579