Page 94 - History of War - Issue 29-16

REVIEWS
PUMPKIN FLOWERS

RECOMMENDED READING Writer: Matti Friedman Publisher: Biteback Publishing

Price: £12.99 Released: Out Now
BRITISH POSTERS THE MOVING TALE OF A WAR THAT CHANGED THE MIDDLE EAST FOREVER
OF THE FIRST
WORLD WAR “There is no room for innocence here.” The Ironically, it was the self-in icted wound of
In the absence of the words of Avi, a thoughtful young Israeli soldier two Israeli helicopters colliding en route to this
Internet, television and in echo throughout this magni cent book, a bloodied outpost that shook the rest of Israel into
the dawn of radio, posters Middle-Eastern Anthem For Doomed Youth. asking the same question.
were the number one way From the very rst pages Friedman, himself The loss of 73 young men enraged the mothers
to sell your product and a soldier among the many stationed on the of Israel, an anger which ultimately led to Israel’s
hammer your point home. Pumpkin (a rectangular hill on the Israeli- withdrawal from the ‘secure zone’ surrounding the
Page after page, John Lebanon border), beautifully captures war’s Pumpkin in May 2000.
ability to trample the ower of innocence.
Christopher has left his compilation of full colour ability to trample the ower of innocence. It was supposed to herald peace, the ‘ owers’
Split into four parts, Friedman eloquently
posters portraying beckoning sergeants, appeals to Split into four parts, Friedman eloquently (Israeli code for casualties) and ‘oleanders’
conveys the individual tragedies of the soldiers
patriotic pride and the guilt of abandoning friends to conveys the individual tragedies of the soldiers (dead) suffered for a cause. Friedman concludes
who fought to hold the hilltop in the mid-1990s.
the ‘Hun’ do the talking. who fought to hold the hilltop in the mid-1990s. by lamenting the reality.
The drudgery of army routine is
The drudgery of army routine is
LAWRENCE OF simultaneously captured in its most
simultaneously captured in its most
ARABIA’S WAR depressing form, yet
depressing form, yet
fascinatingly revealed
The story of TE Lawrence fascinatingly revealed
as a potent weapon
and the Arab Revolt is one as a potent weapon
in transforming high
of the most famous of WWI. in transforming high
school graduates into
There have been many books school graduates into
killing machines.
focused on his remarkable killing machines.
Numerous musical
career but few that have Numerous musical
references powerfully
combined both Lawrence references powerfully
emphasise this
and the Middle Eastern emphasise this
gradual loss of
con ict as a whole in equal measure. Faulkner’s work is gradual loss of
what it is to be a
an excellent introduction to the campaigns that shaped what it is to be a
child. Positioning
today’s con ict in the Middle East and the extraordinary
today’s con ict in the Middle East and the extraordinary child. Positioning
this de ning period
man who was caught up in it. this de ning period
between Guns and
between Guns and
THE FRENCH Roses’ ‘Appetite
Roses’ ‘Appetite
SQUADRONS: A For Destruction’
For Destruction’
TRUE STORY OF and Nirvana’s
and Nirvana’s
LOVE AND WAR iconic ‘Nevermind’
iconic ‘Nevermind’
reinforces the image
A 19-year-old woman from reinforces the image
of young men dying in
northwest England, Barbara of young men dying in
trenches instead of
Harper-Nelson’s life was trenches instead of
pursuing the teenage
changed forever after a pursuing the teenage
love of music.
chance meeting with a love of music.
Much like Avi,
22-year-old French airman Much like Avi,
Friedman is unafraid
by the name of Francis Usai. When Usai was called Friedman is unafraid
to examine the war’s
away to the continent to ght for the Allies, the two to examine the war’s
true meaning. In his
decided to keep in touch via a series of poignant love true meaning. In his
mind, the Pumpkin
letters. The French Squadrons book is a combination mind, the Pumpkin
asks, “What are you
of the original correspondence and Harper-Nelson’s asks, “What are you
doing here?”
diaries from 1944-46 and the result is a touching and doing here?”
fascinating story.
PIRATES, “NUMEROUS
PRISONERS AND
LEPERS: LESSONS REFERENCES
FROM LIFE
OUTSIDE LAW POWERFULLY
History is de ned by its
rebels and outcasts. At EMPHASISE
least, that is the message
of Pirates, Prisoners, And THIS GRADUAL
Lepers. In this exploration
of humanity, Paul H Robinson and Sarah M Robinson LOSS OF WHAT
discuss the importance of social order through the
survival of individuals completely separated from law IT IS TO BE
and civilisation. Would we still retain our morals and
A CHILD”
cooperate to survive if we are left to our own devices?
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