The Last Post

Max Arthur

ISBN 10: 0752888722 ISBN 13: 9780752888729

Publisher: Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd ), 2007

Synopsis

From the author of the best-selling Forgotten Voices of the Great War comes a final look at the last 21 living British veterans of the First World War. These interviews, conducted in 2004, will never be repeated, as the youngest was 106 years old, and most are now gone. These first-person accounts follow the young soldiers from their homes throughout Britain to the raging battles while in the service of the Royal Field Artillery, Black Watch, Royal Navy, and others. These combat experiences should never be forgotten.

About this title

About the Author

Max Arthur is a skilled interviewer who has written oral histories of the RAF and Royal Navy during the Second World War Max Arthur is a skilled interviewer who has written oral histories of the RAF and Royal Navy during the Second World War as well as the Falklands conflict. FORGOTTEN VOICES OF THE GREAT WAR was a Sunday Times bestseller both in hardback and paperback. Paul McGann trained at RADA. He came to prominence in the BBCs MONOCLED MUTINEER, before starring in WITHNAIL AND I with Richard E Grant. Notable Hollywood appearances have been in DOWNTIME and FAIRY TALE, A TRUE STORY. In 1996 he became the 8th incarnation of TVs DOCTOR WHO, followed by a lead role in OUR MUTUAL FRIEND. Clive Mantle has had TV roles in DOCTORS, CASUALTY, HOLBY CITY, THE VICAR OF DIBLEY and AFTER THOMAS. On stage he has appeared in OF MICE AND MEN, THE PLAY WHAT I WROTE, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and KILLING CASTRO. He has also read The Last Post, by Max Arthur, for Orion.

Review

'poignant' -- Susan Osborne BOOKS QUARTERLY 'on this moving recording, stalwart British television actors Paul McGann and Clive Mantle perform the monologues of 10 of the soldiers. They adopt the voices of these largely working class heroes and bring the harrowing experience of life in the trenches vividly to life. LAST POST ably demonstrates where the audio book comes into its own. To listen to these personal accounts of the horror, courage and survival has infinitely more impact than reading the printed word.' -- Vidar Hjardeng FINANCIAL TIMES 'Having previously read the book, it is amazing how listening to it on CD brings it to life. The narrators may not be the actual soldiers but may as well be as you are transported back nearly a hundred years. It is deeply interesting and moving in equal parts and humbles you as a listener, here due to the sacrifice they made. Every home should have a copy of 'Last Post' and ensure future generations are kept aware.' www.FromBumptoGrump.co.uk '3 stars. Excellent.' FAST FORWARD 'This isn't war glamorised or sentimentalised, it's the real thing. "People still talk a lot of rubbish about the war. Only those who were there can tell what really happened," says one old soldier. Listen for yourself, he's right.' -- Sue Arnold THE GUARDIAN

Edition details

• Publisher: Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0752888722
• ISBN 13: 9780752888729
• Binding: Audio CD
• Number of pages: 210