Book details

Book description

At Christmas 1914, in a war famous for its horror and brutality, enemy shook hands with enemy in No Man's Land, exchanged souvenirs, even played football. Nor was this just a brief interlude in one place. The truce between the trenches extended over at least two-thirds of the British line and there were similar ceasefires in the French and Belgian sectors. In some areas the peaceable mood lingered well into 1915. Malcolm Brown and Shirley Seaton have combed war diaries, talked to participants and consulted a wide range of contemporary letters, diaries and newspapers to produce this unique account. 'The authors of this excellent book have captured a moment of humanity in a time of carnage. They splendidly evoke what must be the most extraordinary celebration of Christmas since those notable goings-on in Bethlehem' Mail on Sunday 'It is unlikely that this fine book's account of the truce will ever be bettered' Times Literary Supplement After Oxford and National Service in the Royal Navy, Malcolm Brown was for many years a documentary producer for the BBC, specialising in historical and military subjects. He became a full-time author in 1986 and has been a freelance historian at the Imperial War Museum since 1989. His other books include Tommy Goes to War and A Touch of Genius. Shirley Seaton has worked on many drama and historical documentaries. She was researcher for Lyn MacDonald's book 1914-1918: Voices and images of the Great War, published in 1988, and with co-author Reginald Coleman wrote and published Stamford Brook: An Affectionate Portrait.