Page 87 - All About History - Issue 38-16

Reviews

BRITISH POSTERS OF

THE FIRST WORLD WAR

“Your chums are fighting, why aren’t you?”
Author John Christopher Publisher Amberley Price £14.99 Released Out now

he poster of Lord Kitchener with his beckoning sergeants, appeals to patriotic pride and
fashionable handlebar moustache, staring the guilt of abandoning friends to the ‘Hun’ do
intently at the reader and telling them “Your most of the talking – short of a few appropriately
country needs YOU!”, is one of the most placed captions.
T enduring images to survive World War I. It appeals on two very distinct levels: put your
This concept has been copied for war propaganda historian hat on and you’ll recognise famous
by countries other than Britain and in the contemporaneous faces or iconic objects (such
decades since, has been parodied ad infinitum for as the British liner sunk by the Germans, the
advertising campaigns, mugs and T-shirts across RMS Lusitania) that were intended to evoke an
the world. emotional response from the average man of
But it’s far from being the only World War I recruitment age. Particularly for those with an
poster to endure the test of time: in the absence interest in the psychology of advertising, the
of the internet, television and in the dawn of efforts of the authorities to gloss over the hard
radio, posters were the number one way to sell truths of the front line and inspire the British
your product and hammer your point home. people to support the war, are still refreshingly
Whether it was a recruitment drive for the Western crude and frank.
Front, selling war bonds or flogging Bovril to the As blunt as the military’s recruitment advertising
housewives back home, from 1914˜18, there was a seems today, compared to a century ago it’s still
poster for it. a subtle art. And after 200 pages of hard-hitting
Page after page, John Christopher has left his posters, we’re feeling a bit ashamed about dodging
compilation of full-colour posters portraying the draft ourselves.

CAPTURING

JACK THE RIPPER

The mysterious murderer of Whitechapel

n
o
Author Neil R A Bell Publisher Amberley Price £9.99 Released Out noww
O
u
t
and how. Bell continues then to look into the five
he Victorian serial killer has always been a and how. Bell continues then to look into the five
hot topic of discussion for historians. With cases that were canonically committed by Jack,
cases that were canonically committed by Jack,
over 100 years since his last murders, hints as well as the taunting letters that were received
as well as the taunting letters that were received
during the period, and a look at the other murders
and clues as to who he was are still being during the period, and a look at the other murders
T found. His popularity has led to themed took place in the three years that could also be
took place in the three years that could also be
tours of the capital, several television shows and a linked to the Ripper.
host of films starring Hollywood’s biggest names. Inset in the book are 72 illustrations covering
Inset in the book are 72 illustrations covering
various elements of the cases from the victims’
The intrigue remains. various elements of the cases from the victims’
Written by Jack the Ripper expert Neil R A portraits, to the scenes of the crimes, informative
portraits, to the scenes of the crimes, informative
Bell – who has acted as a Ripperologist on several notes from the cases and maps detailing the local
notes from the cases and maps detailing the local
areas. These clear photographs serve as a brutal
projects including Ripper Street – Capturing Jack areas. These clear photographs serve as a brutal
reminder that this killer was active in the not-
The Ripper details each of the cases linked to the reminder that this killer was active in the not-
too-distant past, and yet in a completely different
world’s most famous, historical serial killer. Taking too-distant past, and yet in a completely different
world. How easy it would be compared to the
the reader through each of the cases step by step, world. How easy it would be compared to the
Victorian-era policing to find him should he have
the book offers a thorough, and enlightening, look Victorian-era policing to find him should he have
into the notorious murderer. been active today.
The setup of the book looks into the world Overall, Capturing Jack The Ripper is a book Capturing Jack The Ripper is a book Capturing Jack The Ripper is a book Capturing Jack The Ripper
of the Victorian police who were tasked with perfect for both enthusiasts looking for a fresh
perfect for both enthusiasts looking for a fresh
read and those with a passing interest in the
finding the Whitechapel murderer, detailing how read and those with a passing interest in the
legacy that surrounds the Leather Apron.
the police were recruited, where they operated legacy that surrounds the Leather Apron.
87 87
086-089_AAH_038_Reviews.indd 87 14/04/2016 00:22