Max Arthur's compilation of First World War memories, Forgotten Voices of the Great War, offers a reminder of the scale of human experience within the 1914-18 conflict. Arthur, a military historian best known for his history of the RAF and his account of the Falklands campaign in 1982, has assembled hundreds of excerpts from the sound archives of the Imperial War Museum. Officers, rank-and-file troops, Australians, Americans, war widows, women in the munitions factories, and German soldiers too, all left oral testimony of their experiences, and these interviews provide the basis of the book. Arthur has put them in chronological and campaign order, and provided a general commentary, but beyond that, has left the rich and moving record to speak for itself.

The sheer humdrum ordinariness of modern warfare--the mud and rain, the relentless loss of life and inevitability of death, the pointless routine of attrition--come over in the matter-of-fact recollections of so many. But so too does the humanity and morality of the ordinary soldier--a factor that rather belies the recent emphasis amongst some historians on how soldiers loved to kill. Arthur might have intruded more. No biographical information is given about the owners of these "voices", nor does he say when, where and how this oral testimony was gathered.

These quibbles aside this is a worthwhile read and should encourage people not only to observe a minute's silence on Remembrance Day, but also to spend a few hours in the Imperial War Museum itself. --Miles Taylor

Compelling Reading, 18 Nov 2008
The recent 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War spurred me to seek out some literature on the subject. My mother's father fought at Ypres and Arras, and was invalided home after a mustard gas attack. I was only 10 years old when he died, but I wish I could have talked to him about his experiences. This book gives a potted history of each year of the war followed by accounts of various survivors who were interviewed in the 1970's. I aim to read more of the Forgotten Voices series to further my knowledge. I received Harry Patch's The Last Fighting Tommy in the post today and look forward to reading his highly acclaimed account of his time in the trenches.

A window through time, 05 Nov 2008
War is never going to be a pleasant thing to read about, and this is no exception - it consists of testimonies from survivors, which have been cut into chunks and organised so that they refer to events in the order that they happened.

I happened across this in a charity shop at the end of October, and I can think of no better way to understand the real meaning of Armstice day - the absolute horror of the things they went through is something that I'd never be able to do. You get a real flavour of the way people were then too - women back in England handing out feathers (the symbol of a coward) to men in the street, completely unaware that a lot of them were back from the trenches sans uniform, which really affected the soldiers.

I won't go into the individual stories, but you can hear the voices rising from the page as you read - as an ex-actor, this is excellent source material if you're doing something set in this period.

A REALLY REALLY GOOD READ. Not many books have affected me as much as this one.

Voices of the Lost Generation, 30 Jul 2008
Forgotten Voices of the Great War is a collection of real life experiences of the First World War, as told by the ordinary people who lived through it.
I must admit that my knowledge of the First World War is a little blank. My only previous experience of this period was through school lessons about trench warfare, or by watching Blackadder goes forth. Therefore I can't make an analysis about the historical accuracy of the book. But what I can say is that I found it a very powerful and poignant work.

The author, Max Arthur, has spent several years listening to thousands of recordings of the men and women who lived during this period. These tapes were kept as archival records in the Imperial War Museum, after they were collected in 1972. These are essentially the voices of a lost generation. The book is divided into chapters that cover every year of the war, from 1914 to 1918. Within these chapters are accounts taken from individual campaigns or battles such as Gallipoli, The Second Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Mons.

Arthur has sifted through these records to bring out the most varied and unique stories. We are told about gas attacks, boredom or banter between soldiers, but we also get to hear the points of view of people like Elizabeth Owen, who was a schoolgirl at the outbreak of the war. Many of these stories are touching and funny, while others can be truly horrifying. In the section on Gallipoli for instance, we get a story of the games played between British and Turkish soldiers, with some of them throwing tinned bully beef and strings of figs to each other as presents. In the same section it also tells you of the horrible and undignified deaths caused by dysentry and other diseases, which will probably be some of the most terrible accounts of the war you will ever read.

This is an incredibly powerful and important book. If you have ever wondered about life during the First World War, then this book should be the first one you read. Extraordinay.

Not everyone can get to source documents, 23 May 2008
This book is now part of a series collated from the IWM archives. Not everyone can get to source documents through time or distance. This book has brought some of the sources into the public arena. Naturally such short personal reminicences give a fragmented picture. If you want opinions handed to you, read a 'definitive' history. All history books, however good, are shaped by the author. If a book like this makes you question recived wisdom, it has done its job.

Good, but difficult to put in context., 22 May 2008
This is an excellent collection of first-hand accounts of the Great War, from a variety of different contemporary contributors to that war.

The only problem with this book is that it divorces the account from much of the wider picture, so it tends to foster a 'I've read that book, I know all about WW1 now' sort of attitude. Perhaps it's just a reflection of our rushed aged, but I think the many other books, which describe some of the development of the war and intertwine similar first-hand accounts, do more justice to those milions who gave their lives on all sides, than a quick flit through this collection of stand-alone, very short stories.

Admittedly, the book has a very important role to play in appealing to those who may othwerwise not take an interest in WW1, so for that reason alone, it is a worthwhile production.

Compelling Reading, 18 Nov 2008
The recent 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War spurred me to seek out some literature on the subject. My mother's father fought at Ypres and Arras, and was invalided home after a mustard gas attack. I was only 10 years old when he died, but I wish I could have talked to him about his experiences. This book gives a potted history of each year of the war followed by accounts of various survivors who were interviewed in the 1970's. I aim to read more of the Forgotten Voices series to further my knowledge. I received Harry Patch's The Last Fighting Tommy in the post today and look forward to reading his highly acclaimed account of his time in the trenches.

A window through time, 05 Nov 2008
War is never going to be a pleasant thing to read about, and this is no exception - it consists of testimonies from survivors, which have been cut into chunks and organised so that they refer to events in the order that they happened.

I happened across this in a charity shop at the end of October, and I can think of no better way to understand the real meaning of Armstice day - the absolute horror of the things they went through is something that I'd never be able to do. You get a real flavour of the way people were then too - women back in England handing out feathers (the symbol of a coward) to men in the street, completely unaware that a lot of them were back from the trenches sans uniform, which really affected the soldiers.

I won't go into the individual stories, but you can hear the voices rising from the page as you read - as an ex-actor, this is excellent source material if you're doing something set in this period.

A REALLY REALLY GOOD READ. Not many books have affected me as much as this one.

Voices of the Lost Generation, 30 Jul 2008
Forgotten Voices of the Great War is a collection of real life experiences of the First World War, as told by the ordinary people who lived through it.
I must admit that my knowledge of the First World War is a little blank. My only previous experience of this period was through school lessons about trench warfare, or by watching Blackadder goes forth. Therefore I can't make an analysis about the historical accuracy of the book. But what I can say is that I found it a very powerful and poignant work.

The author, Max Arthur, has spent several years listening to thousands of recordings of the men and women who lived during this period. These tapes were kept as archival records in the Imperial War Museum, after they were collected in 1972. These are essentially the voices of a lost generation. The book is divided into chapters that cover every year of the war, from 1914 to 1918. Within these chapters are accounts taken from individual campaigns or battles such as Gallipoli, The Second Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Mons.

Arthur has sifted through these records to bring out the most varied and unique stories. We are told about gas attacks, boredom or banter between soldiers, but we also get to hear the points of view of people like Elizabeth Owen, who was a schoolgirl at the outbreak of the war. Many of these stories are touching and funny, while others can be truly horrifying. In the section on Gallipoli for instance, we get a story of the games played between British and Turkish soldiers, with some of them throwing tinned bully beef and strings of figs to each other as presents. In the same section it also tells you of the horrible and undignified deaths caused by dysentry and other diseases, which will probably be some of the most terrible accounts of the war you will ever read.

This is an incredibly powerful and important book. If you have ever wondered about life during the First World War, then this book should be the first one you read. Extraordinay.

Not everyone can get to source documents, 23 May 2008
This book is now part of a series collated from the IWM archives. Not everyone can get to source documents through time or distance. This book has brought some of the sources into the public arena. Naturally such short personal reminicences give a fragmented picture. If you want opinions handed to you, read a 'definitive' history. All history books, however good, are shaped by the author. If a book like this makes you question recived wisdom, it has done its job.

Good, but difficult to put in context., 22 May 2008
This is an excellent collection of first-hand accounts of the Great War, from a variety of different contemporary contributors to that war.

The only problem with this book is that it divorces the account from much of the wider picture, so it tends to foster a 'I've read that book, I know all about WW1 now' sort of attitude. Perhaps it's just a reflection of our rushed aged, but I think the many other books, which describe some of the development of the war and intertwine similar first-hand accounts, do more justice to those milions who gave their lives on all sides, than a quick flit through this collection of stand-alone, very short stories.

Admittedly, the book has a very important role to play in appealing to those who may othwerwise not take an interest in WW1, so for that reason alone, it is a worthwhile production.

A Must Read..., 08 Nov 2008
What a fabulous read! The best I've read so far on this genre. Buy it, sit back and get your excuses ready! You won't be able to put it down...!

In the Shadow of Papillon: Seven Years of Hell in Venezuela's Prison System , 18 Aug 2008
Good Lord what a book it does not happen very often and i often 'force read' a lot of books but this was brilliant & i could not put it down xxx

Terrific!, 28 Jun 2008
I couldn't stop reading until the end of this book once I started. It describes the life in Venezuela's prisons vividly. I highly recommend this book!

And the truth will set you free, 04 Jan 2007
This is a book that will keep you glued to the pages. It will give you an insight into the corruption that exists in the world of the 'War on drugs' which is causing so much heartache. Very well written piece, that will take you on this man's harrowing journey through the penal system in Venezuela, to his eventual release and repatriation. This is a life changing story that will blow you away!

Must buy!, 04 Oct 2006
This is a terrific but disturbing insight into how justice is done outside of the modern world. I encourage anyone to read it if not only for the eye-opening accounts of day-to-day prison life. Many parts of the book lead you to ask yourself "what would i have done in that situation" or "how would i have handled it". The answer is you wouldn't which is why this book is a fantastic advertisement for keeping your feet firmly on the ground and not doing anything as stupid as trying to smuggle drugs through a corrupt ridden country. Buy it, read it, love it - take my word for it you won't be able to put it down.

Compelling Reading, 18 Nov 2008
The recent 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War spurred me to seek out some literature on the subject. My mother's father fought at Ypres and Arras, and was invalided home after a mustard gas attack. I was only 10 years old when he died, but I wish I could have talked to him about his experiences. This book gives a potted history of each year of the war followed by accounts of various survivors who were interviewed in the 1970's. I aim to read more of the Forgotten Voices series to further my knowledge. I received Harry Patch's The Last Fighting Tommy in the post today and look forward to reading his highly acclaimed account of his time in the trenches.

A window through time, 05 Nov 2008
War is never going to be a pleasant thing to read about, and this is no exception - it consists of testimonies from survivors, which have been cut into chunks and organised so that they refer to events in the order that they happened.

I happened across this in a charity shop at the end of October, and I can think of no better way to understand the real meaning of Armstice day - the absolute horror of the things they went through is something that I'd never be able to do. You get a real flavour of the way people were then too - women back in England handing out feathers (the symbol of a coward) to men in the street, completely unaware that a lot of them were back from the trenches sans uniform, which really affected the soldiers.

I won't go into the individual stories, but you can hear the voices rising from the page as you read - as an ex-actor, this is excellent source material if you're doing something set in this period.

A REALLY REALLY GOOD READ. Not many books have affected me as much as this one.

Voices of the Lost Generation, 30 Jul 2008
Forgotten Voices of the Great War is a collection of real life experiences of the First World War, as told by the ordinary people who lived through it.
I must admit that my knowledge of the First World War is a little blank. My only previous experience of this period was through school lessons about trench warfare, or by watching Blackadder goes forth. Therefore I can't make an analysis about the historical accuracy of the book. But what I can say is that I found it a very powerful and poignant work.

The author, Max Arthur, has spent several years listening to thousands of recordings of the men and women who lived during this period. These tapes were kept as archival records in the Imperial War Museum, after they were collected in 1972. These are essentially the voices of a lost generation. The book is divided into chapters that cover every year of the war, from 1914 to 1918. Within these chapters are accounts taken from individual campaigns or battles such as Gallipoli, The Second Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Mons.

Arthur has sifted through these records to bring out the most varied and unique stories. We are told about gas attacks, boredom or banter between soldiers, but we also get to hear the points of view of people like Elizabeth Owen, who was a schoolgirl at the outbreak of the war. Many of these stories are touching and funny, while others can be truly horrifying. In the section on Gallipoli for instance, we get a story of the games played between British and Turkish soldiers, with some of them throwing tinned bully beef and strings of figs to each other as presents. In the same section it also tells you of the horrible and undignified deaths caused by dysentry and other diseases, which will probably be some of the most terrible accounts of the war you will ever read.

This is an incredibly powerful and important book. If you have ever wondered about life during the First World War, then this book should be the first one you read. Extraordinay.

Not everyone can get to source documents, 23 May 2008
This book is now part of a series collated from the IWM archives. Not everyone can get to source documents through time or distance. This book has brought some of the sources into the public arena. Naturally such short personal reminicences give a fragmented picture. If you want opinions handed to you, read a 'definitive' history. All history books, however good, are shaped by the author. If a book like this makes you question recived wisdom, it has done its job.

Good, but difficult to put in context., 22 May 2008
This is an excellent collection of first-hand accounts of the Great War, from a variety of different contemporary contributors to that war.

The only problem with this book is that it divorces the account from much of the wider picture, so it tends to foster a 'I've read that book, I know all about WW1 now' sort of attitude. Perhaps it's just a reflection of our rushed aged, but I think the many other books, which describe some of the development of the war and intertwine similar first-hand accounts, do more justice to those milions who gave their lives on all sides, than a quick flit through this collection of stand-alone, very short stories.

Admittedly, the book has a very important role to play in appealing to those who may othwerwise not take an interest in WW1, so for that reason alone, it is a worthwhile production.

A Must Read..., 08 Nov 2008
What a fabulous read! The best I've read so far on this genre. Buy it, sit back and get your excuses ready! You won't be able to put it down...!

In the Shadow of Papillon: Seven Years of Hell in Venezuela's Prison System , 18 Aug 2008
Good Lord what a book it does not happen very often and i often 'force read' a lot of books but this was brilliant & i could not put it down xxx

Terrific!, 28 Jun 2008
I couldn't stop reading until the end of this book once I started. It describes the life in Venezuela's prisons vividly. I highly recommend this book!

And the truth will set you free, 04 Jan 2007
This is a book that will keep you glued to the pages. It will give you an insight into the corruption that exists in the world of the 'War on drugs' which is causing so much heartache. Very well written piece, that will take you on this man's harrowing journey through the penal system in Venezuela, to his eventual release and repatriation. This is a life changing story that will blow you away!

Must buy!, 04 Oct 2006
This is a terrific but disturbing insight into how justice is done outside of the modern world. I encourage anyone to read it if not only for the eye-opening accounts of day-to-day prison life. Many parts of the book lead you to ask yourself "what would i have done in that situation" or "how would i have handled it". The answer is you wouldn't which is why this book is a fantastic advertisement for keeping your feet firmly on the ground and not doing anything as stupid as trying to smuggle drugs through a corrupt ridden country. Buy it, read it, love it - take my word for it you won't be able to put it down.

beautiful cover, 02 Aug 2008
This book is a true inspiration to all garden lovers and even those who are not yet addicted to plants and gardens. It's well researched, easy to read and understand and with beautiful illustrations (especially those by Marianne North) it's a perfect present. John and Mary Gribbin have the talent of bringing together the story of eleven flower hunters, without compromising the scientific facts, and have created a very interesting book in their usual accessible style. This has pride of place on my coffee table and is a very important addition to my collection of gardening and flower books. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
Flower Hunters is a great read. Mary and John Gribbin tell the engaging stories of the earliest botanical explorers, really bringing their characters to life. They bring us the well researched details of these founding figures in the new science of Botany with an exciting narrative that makes you live their intrepid adventures.
Highly reccomend this book to everyone and avidly look forward to hopefully future books that continue the story on.

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
I recomend this excellent book to anyone both with a specific interest in Botany or a complete novice.
The text is very engaging and informative. I hope they write another book that takes us up to date with subsequent Flower Hunters.

Fascinating, 22 Apr 2008
What a brilliant read. This meticulously researched book weaves together the stories of the botanist adventurers of the 18th and 19th centuries to provide an extraordinary insight into their minds and motivations. The book flowed seamlessly from one story to the next, and provided the right balance between historical accuracy and a damn fine yarn. I was hooked from page one, and would recommend this book as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in gardening history.

Loved it!, 19 Apr 2008
I loved the quirky people. Their obsessions and energies led to our gardens being what they are today. Amazing.

Compelling Reading, 18 Nov 2008
The recent 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War spurred me to seek out some literature on the subject. My mother's father fought at Ypres and Arras, and was invalided home after a mustard gas attack. I was only 10 years old when he died, but I wish I could have talked to him about his experiences. This book gives a potted history of each year of the war followed by accounts of various survivors who were interviewed in the 1970's. I aim to read more of the Forgotten Voices series to further my knowledge. I received Harry Patch's The Last Fighting Tommy in the post today and look forward to reading his highly acclaimed account of his time in the trenches.

A window through time, 05 Nov 2008
War is never going to be a pleasant thing to read about, and this is no exception - it consists of testimonies from survivors, which have been cut into chunks and organised so that they refer to events in the order that they happened.

I happened across this in a charity shop at the end of October, and I can think of no better way to understand the real meaning of Armstice day - the absolute horror of the things they went through is something that I'd never be able to do. You get a real flavour of the way people were then too - women back in England handing out feathers (the symbol of a coward) to men in the street, completely unaware that a lot of them were back from the trenches sans uniform, which really affected the soldiers.

I won't go into the individual stories, but you can hear the voices rising from the page as you read - as an ex-actor, this is excellent source material if you're doing something set in this period.

A REALLY REALLY GOOD READ. Not many books have affected me as much as this one.

Voices of the Lost Generation, 30 Jul 2008
Forgotten Voices of the Great War is a collection of real life experiences of the First World War, as told by the ordinary people who lived through it.
I must admit that my knowledge of the First World War is a little blank. My only previous experience of this period was through school lessons about trench warfare, or by watching Blackadder goes forth. Therefore I can't make an analysis about the historical accuracy of the book. But what I can say is that I found it a very powerful and poignant work.

The author, Max Arthur, has spent several years listening to thousands of recordings of the men and women who lived during this period. These tapes were kept as archival records in the Imperial War Museum, after they were collected in 1972. These are essentially the voices of a lost generation. The book is divided into chapters that cover every year of the war, from 1914 to 1918. Within these chapters are accounts taken from individual campaigns or battles such as Gallipoli, The Second Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Mons.

Arthur has sifted through these records to bring out the most varied and unique stories. We are told about gas attacks, boredom or banter between soldiers, but we also get to hear the points of view of people like Elizabeth Owen, who was a schoolgirl at the outbreak of the war. Many of these stories are touching and funny, while others can be truly horrifying. In the section on Gallipoli for instance, we get a story of the games played between British and Turkish soldiers, with some of them throwing tinned bully beef and strings of figs to each other as presents. In the same section it also tells you of the horrible and undignified deaths caused by dysentry and other diseases, which will probably be some of the most terrible accounts of the war you will ever read.

This is an incredibly powerful and important book. If you have ever wondered about life during the First World War, then this book should be the first one you read. Extraordinay.

Not everyone can get to source documents, 23 May 2008
This book is now part of a series collated from the IWM archives. Not everyone can get to source documents through time or distance. This book has brought some of the sources into the public arena. Naturally such short personal reminicences give a fragmented picture. If you want opinions handed to you, read a 'definitive' history. All history books, however good, are shaped by the author. If a book like this makes you question recived wisdom, it has done its job.

Good, but difficult to put in context., 22 May 2008
This is an excellent collection of first-hand accounts of the Great War, from a variety of different contemporary contributors to that war.

The only problem with this book is that it divorces the account from much of the wider picture, so it tends to foster a 'I've read that book, I know all about WW1 now' sort of attitude. Perhaps it's just a reflection of our rushed aged, but I think the many other books, which describe some of the development of the war and intertwine similar first-hand accounts, do more justice to those milions who gave their lives on all sides, than a quick flit through this collection of stand-alone, very short stories.

Admittedly, the book has a very important role to play in appealing to those who may othwerwise not take an interest in WW1, so for that reason alone, it is a worthwhile production.

A Must Read..., 08 Nov 2008
What a fabulous read! The best I've read so far on this genre. Buy it, sit back and get your excuses ready! You won't be able to put it down...!

In the Shadow of Papillon: Seven Years of Hell in Venezuela's Prison System , 18 Aug 2008
Good Lord what a book it does not happen very often and i often 'force read' a lot of books but this was brilliant & i could not put it down xxx

Terrific!, 28 Jun 2008
I couldn't stop reading until the end of this book once I started. It describes the life in Venezuela's prisons vividly. I highly recommend this book!

And the truth will set you free, 04 Jan 2007
This is a book that will keep you glued to the pages. It will give you an insight into the corruption that exists in the world of the 'War on drugs' which is causing so much heartache. Very well written piece, that will take you on this man's harrowing journey through the penal system in Venezuela, to his eventual release and repatriation. This is a life changing story that will blow you away!

Must buy!, 04 Oct 2006
This is a terrific but disturbing insight into how justice is done outside of the modern world. I encourage anyone to read it if not only for the eye-opening accounts of day-to-day prison life. Many parts of the book lead you to ask yourself "what would i have done in that situation" or "how would i have handled it". The answer is you wouldn't which is why this book is a fantastic advertisement for keeping your feet firmly on the ground and not doing anything as stupid as trying to smuggle drugs through a corrupt ridden country. Buy it, read it, love it - take my word for it you won't be able to put it down.

beautiful cover, 02 Aug 2008
This book is a true inspiration to all garden lovers and even those who are not yet addicted to plants and gardens. It's well researched, easy to read and understand and with beautiful illustrations (especially those by Marianne North) it's a perfect present. John and Mary Gribbin have the talent of bringing together the story of eleven flower hunters, without compromising the scientific facts, and have created a very interesting book in their usual accessible style. This has pride of place on my coffee table and is a very important addition to my collection of gardening and flower books. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
Flower Hunters is a great read. Mary and John Gribbin tell the engaging stories of the earliest botanical explorers, really bringing their characters to life. They bring us the well researched details of these founding figures in the new science of Botany with an exciting narrative that makes you live their intrepid adventures.
Highly reccomend this book to everyone and avidly look forward to hopefully future books that continue the story on.

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
I recomend this excellent book to anyone both with a specific interest in Botany or a complete novice.
The text is very engaging and informative. I hope they write another book that takes us up to date with subsequent Flower Hunters.

Fascinating, 22 Apr 2008
What a brilliant read. This meticulously researched book weaves together the stories of the botanist adventurers of the 18th and 19th centuries to provide an extraordinary insight into their minds and motivations. The book flowed seamlessly from one story to the next, and provided the right balance between historical accuracy and a damn fine yarn. I was hooked from page one, and would recommend this book as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in gardening history.

Loved it!, 19 Apr 2008
I loved the quirky people. Their obsessions and energies led to our gardens being what they are today. Amazing.



Still relevant today, 06 Dec 2007
Here's something that often makes me laugh...

People who seem to have no Black friends, don't know any Black people other than at a distance (say in another department at work), have none in their social circle and who have no knowledge of 'Black' history, the history of racist thought and practice or its persistent legacy of discrimination are quick to say those magic words:

'I'm not racist'.

I've observed this many, many, many times. It often precedes 'but...' and someone saying something that often reveals staggering ignorance. Now I'm no mind reader but I would ask the question of anyone who says 'I'm not racist' - how do you know?

We all have opinions that we would do well to examine from time to time. I've heard people from different ethnic groups, countries etc say the most stupid things imaginable about 'other' people and even themselves. Men say stupid things about women, women say stupid things about men. Let's face it - stupidity is common currency all over the world.

This book, if honestly read and understood, is an antidote to the abject stupidity of racism.


A classic which fails to date, 22 Sep 2003
I've not much to add to the very positive reviews on Amazon about this book. It is very well written, with an economy of style and still provides an important exploration of the human condition. You will carry many of the episodes in the book around with you long after you've read it. But the one thing I thought that I could add is that I've just ordered another copy through Amazon. This is after having lost a good few copies over the years, lent/given to several of my former students (mainly 16-18 year olds) who seem to have found it both accessible and important. I can think of no other book that I've been so keen to share but so determined to replace.

Read 27 years ago; still the most meaningful book I've read, 27 Feb 2002
In High School in Canada this book was one of the required reading books. It gripped me then but over the past 27 years, it has become more and more meaningful. I am now a Learning Support Assistant at a Middle School in England and a few weeks ago, during Literacy Hour, the teacher asked the children if they could remember a book which had had a significant impact on them...I immediately thought of Black Like Me...I couldn't remember the author...but I immediately wished that it could be compulsory reading now. Maybe it would have a positive affect on children not only with regard to current day racisim, but also on the subject of bullying in its many disguises!

Thought provoking, and consciousness raising., 30 Jan 2002
I first read this book almost 15 years ago, following studying an extract in an English class school. It was and remains one of the most consciousness raising books I've ever read, and whilst the times which inspired it are gone, it is still relevant today because of the overall message that perception changes everything.

One of the most important works of our time, 04 Jul 2000
This book carries such a potent message that it should be compulsive reading for all. Last year I studied Race Relations: apartheid in South Africa and segregation in America, as part of my GCSE History syllabus and happened upon this book whilst browsing in the school library during an English lesson. From the moment I read the synopsis, I could not put it down. It's the true story of a white man who disguises himself as a black man and travels to the Deep South in the 1950s in order to discover what kind of life a black really lives in a place where racial hatred runs so deep. The results are incredible, heart-wrenching, and deeply disturbing. It inspires self-questioning. It made me wonder: if one can only learn of oneself by how he reacts to others and others react to him, then surely as other's perceptions of him change in reponse to a superficial outward characteristic such as skin colour, his inward sense or perception of self must also change, thus altering the essence of his soul and the nature of his self knowledge. Griffin found himself referring to blacks as 'we' and 'us', and he experienced a frightening identity crisis; after all, when you look black and others respond to you as black and either alienate or integrate you according to your blackness, the only thing preventing you from being black is your (literal) underlying whiteness! It poses questions about society, social groupings and appearances, and ultimately, how the fragile soul can be damaged or altered as a result of the reactions to the body it occupies. After all, does one's soul have a colour?

Compelling Reading, 18 Nov 2008
The recent 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War spurred me to seek out some literature on the subject. My mother's father fought at Ypres and Arras, and was invalided home after a mustard gas attack. I was only 10 years old when he died, but I wish I could have talked to him about his experiences. This book gives a potted history of each year of the war followed by accounts of various survivors who were interviewed in the 1970's. I aim to read more of the Forgotten Voices series to further my knowledge. I received Harry Patch's The Last Fighting Tommy in the post today and look forward to reading his highly acclaimed account of his time in the trenches.

A window through time, 05 Nov 2008
War is never going to be a pleasant thing to read about, and this is no exception - it consists of testimonies from survivors, which have been cut into chunks and organised so that they refer to events in the order that they happened.

I happened across this in a charity shop at the end of October, and I can think of no better way to understand the real meaning of Armstice day - the absolute horror of the things they went through is something that I'd never be able to do. You get a real flavour of the way people were then too - women back in England handing out feathers (the symbol of a coward) to men in the street, completely unaware that a lot of them were back from the trenches sans uniform, which really affected the soldiers.

I won't go into the individual stories, but you can hear the voices rising from the page as you read - as an ex-actor, this is excellent source material if you're doing something set in this period.

A REALLY REALLY GOOD READ. Not many books have affected me as much as this one.

Voices of the Lost Generation, 30 Jul 2008
Forgotten Voices of the Great War is a collection of real life experiences of the First World War, as told by the ordinary people who lived through it.
I must admit that my knowledge of the First World War is a little blank. My only previous experience of this period was through school lessons about trench warfare, or by watching Blackadder goes forth. Therefore I can't make an analysis about the historical accuracy of the book. But what I can say is that I found it a very powerful and poignant work.

The author, Max Arthur, has spent several years listening to thousands of recordings of the men and women who lived during this period. These tapes were kept as archival records in the Imperial War Museum, after they were collected in 1972. These are essentially the voices of a lost generation. The book is divided into chapters that cover every year of the war, from 1914 to 1918. Within these chapters are accounts taken from individual campaigns or battles such as Gallipoli, The Second Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Mons.

Arthur has sifted through these records to bring out the most varied and unique stories. We are told about gas attacks, boredom or banter between soldiers, but we also get to hear the points of view of people like Elizabeth Owen, who was a schoolgirl at the outbreak of the war. Many of these stories are touching and funny, while others can be truly horrifying. In the section on Gallipoli for instance, we get a story of the games played between British and Turkish soldiers, with some of them throwing tinned bully beef and strings of figs to each other as presents. In the same section it also tells you of the horrible and undignified deaths caused by dysentry and other diseases, which will probably be some of the most terrible accounts of the war you will ever read.

This is an incredibly powerful and important book. If you have ever wondered about life during the First World War, then this book should be the first one you read. Extraordinay.

Not everyone can get to source documents, 23 May 2008
This book is now part of a series collated from the IWM archives. Not everyone can get to source documents through time or distance. This book has brought some of the sources into the public arena. Naturally such short personal reminicences give a fragmented picture. If you want opinions handed to you, read a 'definitive' history. All history books, however good, are shaped by the author. If a book like this makes you question recived wisdom, it has done its job.

Good, but difficult to put in context., 22 May 2008
This is an excellent collection of first-hand accounts of the Great War, from a variety of different contemporary contributors to that war.

The only problem with this book is that it divorces the account from much of the wider picture, so it tends to foster a 'I've read that book, I know all about WW1 now' sort of attitude. Perhaps it's just a reflection of our rushed aged, but I think the many other books, which describe some of the development of the war and intertwine similar first-hand accounts, do more justice to those milions who gave their lives on all sides, than a quick flit through this collection of stand-alone, very short stories.

Admittedly, the book has a very important role to play in appealing to those who may othwerwise not take an interest in WW1, so for that reason alone, it is a worthwhile production.

A Must Read..., 08 Nov 2008
What a fabulous read! The best I've read so far on this genre. Buy it, sit back and get your excuses ready! You won't be able to put it down...!

In the Shadow of Papillon: Seven Years of Hell in Venezuela's Prison System , 18 Aug 2008
Good Lord what a book it does not happen very often and i often 'force read' a lot of books but this was brilliant & i could not put it down xxx

Terrific!, 28 Jun 2008
I couldn't stop reading until the end of this book once I started. It describes the life in Venezuela's prisons vividly. I highly recommend this book!

And the truth will set you free, 04 Jan 2007
This is a book that will keep you glued to the pages. It will give you an insight into the corruption that exists in the world of the 'War on drugs' which is causing so much heartache. Very well written piece, that will take you on this man's harrowing journey through the penal system in Venezuela, to his eventual release and repatriation. This is a life changing story that will blow you away!

Must buy!, 04 Oct 2006
This is a terrific but disturbing insight into how justice is done outside of the modern world. I encourage anyone to read it if not only for the eye-opening accounts of day-to-day prison life. Many parts of the book lead you to ask yourself "what would i have done in that situation" or "how would i have handled it". The answer is you wouldn't which is why this book is a fantastic advertisement for keeping your feet firmly on the ground and not doing anything as stupid as trying to smuggle drugs through a corrupt ridden country. Buy it, read it, love it - take my word for it you won't be able to put it down.

beautiful cover, 02 Aug 2008
This book is a true inspiration to all garden lovers and even those who are not yet addicted to plants and gardens. It's well researched, easy to read and understand and with beautiful illustrations (especially those by Marianne North) it's a perfect present. John and Mary Gribbin have the talent of bringing together the story of eleven flower hunters, without compromising the scientific facts, and have created a very interesting book in their usual accessible style. This has pride of place on my coffee table and is a very important addition to my collection of gardening and flower books. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
Flower Hunters is a great read. Mary and John Gribbin tell the engaging stories of the earliest botanical explorers, really bringing their characters to life. They bring us the well researched details of these founding figures in the new science of Botany with an exciting narrative that makes you live their intrepid adventures.
Highly reccomend this book to everyone and avidly look forward to hopefully future books that continue the story on.

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
I recomend this excellent book to anyone both with a specific interest in Botany or a complete novice.
The text is very engaging and informative. I hope they write another book that takes us up to date with subsequent Flower Hunters.

Fascinating, 22 Apr 2008
What a brilliant read. This meticulously researched book weaves together the stories of the botanist adventurers of the 18th and 19th centuries to provide an extraordinary insight into their minds and motivations. The book flowed seamlessly from one story to the next, and provided the right balance between historical accuracy and a damn fine yarn. I was hooked from page one, and would recommend this book as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in gardening history.

Loved it!, 19 Apr 2008
I loved the quirky people. Their obsessions and energies led to our gardens being what they are today. Amazing.



Still relevant today, 06 Dec 2007
Here's something that often makes me laugh...

People who seem to have no Black friends, don't know any Black people other than at a distance (say in another department at work), have none in their social circle and who have no knowledge of 'Black' history, the history of racist thought and practice or its persistent legacy of discrimination are quick to say those magic words:

'I'm not racist'.

I've observed this many, many, many times. It often precedes 'but...' and someone saying something that often reveals staggering ignorance. Now I'm no mind reader but I would ask the question of anyone who says 'I'm not racist' - how do you know?

We all have opinions that we would do well to examine from time to time. I've heard people from different ethnic groups, countries etc say the most stupid things imaginable about 'other' people and even themselves. Men say stupid things about women, women say stupid things about men. Let's face it - stupidity is common currency all over the world.

This book, if honestly read and understood, is an antidote to the abject stupidity of racism.


A classic which fails to date, 22 Sep 2003
I've not much to add to the very positive reviews on Amazon about this book. It is very well written, with an economy of style and still provides an important exploration of the human condition. You will carry many of the episodes in the book around with you long after you've read it. But the one thing I thought that I could add is that I've just ordered another copy through Amazon. This is after having lost a good few copies over the years, lent/given to several of my former students (mainly 16-18 year olds) who seem to have found it both accessible and important. I can think of no other book that I've been so keen to share but so determined to replace.

Read 27 years ago; still the most meaningful book I've read, 27 Feb 2002
In High School in Canada this book was one of the required reading books. It gripped me then but over the past 27 years, it has become more and more meaningful. I am now a Learning Support Assistant at a Middle School in England and a few weeks ago, during Literacy Hour, the teacher asked the children if they could remember a book which had had a significant impact on them...I immediately thought of Black Like Me...I couldn't remember the author...but I immediately wished that it could be compulsory reading now. Maybe it would have a positive affect on children not only with regard to current day racisim, but also on the subject of bullying in its many disguises!

Thought provoking, and consciousness raising., 30 Jan 2002
I first read this book almost 15 years ago, following studying an extract in an English class school. It was and remains one of the most consciousness raising books I've ever read, and whilst the times which inspired it are gone, it is still relevant today because of the overall message that perception changes everything.

One of the most important works of our time, 04 Jul 2000
This book carries such a potent message that it should be compulsive reading for all. Last year I studied Race Relations: apartheid in South Africa and segregation in America, as part of my GCSE History syllabus and happened upon this book whilst browsing in the school library during an English lesson. From the moment I read the synopsis, I could not put it down. It's the true story of a white man who disguises himself as a black man and travels to the Deep South in the 1950s in order to discover what kind of life a black really lives in a place where racial hatred runs so deep. The results are incredible, heart-wrenching, and deeply disturbing. It inspires self-questioning. It made me wonder: if one can only learn of oneself by how he reacts to others and others react to him, then surely as other's perceptions of him change in reponse to a superficial outward characteristic such as skin colour, his inward sense or perception of self must also change, thus altering the essence of his soul and the nature of his self knowledge. Griffin found himself referring to blacks as 'we' and 'us', and he experienced a frightening identity crisis; after all, when you look black and others respond to you as black and either alienate or integrate you according to your blackness, the only thing preventing you from being black is your (literal) underlying whiteness! It poses questions about society, social groupings and appearances, and ultimately, how the fragile soul can be damaged or altered as a result of the reactions to the body it occupies. After all, does one's soul have a colour?

Killed a couple of hours with it, 08 Jan 2008
I did read it cover to cover non stop (but then again I had nothing better to do at the time). It was a frank and insightful look at the life of travellers through the eyes of one of their own, and the descriptions of the bare-knuckle fights were rather better than some I've read.

On the other hand, Stockin gleefully describes property damage, theft and GBH and then with the same breath, moans about how he can't understand why gypsies are despised and mistrusted by non-gypsies, which becomes irritating after a while.

starts promising but falls over its own hypocrisy..., 30 Dec 2007
This book was 'dictated' by the author who (quite proudly it seems) cannot read or write himself. There is even a 'I swear that all that is in this book is true...' type of preamble to the book which, I have to say, made me suspicious from the start.

However the stories told by Mr Cobbles are entertaining and you do get an insight into the 'travelling' life. However hypocrisy is obviously something this man is not aware of as while on one hand he berates us 'gorgeis' (those who live in houses) for unfairly tarring him and his fellow 'mushes/tinkers/gypsies etc' (all used in the book) as criminals or ne'er-do-wells, the next page he is winking and nudging all the way through his story how he and one of his pals 'aquired' a Truck and some paint so that no one would be able to track the stolen vehicle down. This is just one example of double-standards.

At the point he and his family were all 'forced' into a house and the subsequent pictures of him and his family all stood proudly smiling outside their nice semi in some suburban area next to the picture of his 'dear ol mum' getting into a hired strecth limo resplendent with Tiara, I stopped caring.

What this book needed was a good editing (what was the point of a picture of him drinking a cup of 'rosie' again?), but I feel that would have made the book too small. It was a diverting read, but fails about half way through to keep one's attention and you stop caring about the author.

On The Cobbles, 11 Dec 2007
Better than Pretty Boy and The Guv'nor, but not a patch on Bartley Gorman's book, not even close.

Brilliant, 21 Nov 2005
It takes me about a week to read an interesting Biography normally. This took me two days. I really got into it so much I felt as though I was there with them at times. This would make a fantastic film so someone should send Guy Richie a copy.
I hope I bump into Jim one day and I'll buy him a beer.

My favorite, 02 Mar 2004
I orderded a bunch of Bareknuckle boxing books off of Amazon.co.uk,
I read The Tarmac Warrior, The Guvnor, Roy Shaw, King of The Gypsy's, and On the Cobbles. By far my favorite fighter was Jimmy Stockin. He told his story in a down to earth way. He didnt hide behind an "I cant be beat attitude". He was just a guy who loved his family, worked to live, free spirit who could admit his losses, faults, and failures. And the way he kept getting up after all life throwed at him, he is a true champion. I knew nothing of Gypsy's before I read these Bareknuckle books. And the thing that struck me the most about "On the Cobbles". Is that this book made me wish I was a Gypsy or at least hung around some of them. It made me want to attend a Say and listen to the old men tell tales. I wanted to be blown by the wind of destiny and not be rooted in the same house all the time. I wanted to go to the race tracks and fairs. Its been along time since a book has spoken so loudly to me. This book transports you back in time and you live Jimmy's life with him. I was so upset at the death of Muggy, I felt sorrow reading about it. And I shared in the rage when his killers got off. Its not fair how the Gypsy's have been treated in England. And now their way of life is becoming extinct because of laws and regulations. This book is motivational, sad, funny, and violent. What an awesome combination! Give this one a shot, you wont be sorry.

Good luck Jimmy Dean Rocky Marciano Stockin. Im sure you'll do your father proud.

Compelling Reading, 18 Nov 2008
The recent 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War spurred me to seek out some literature on the subject. My mother's father fought at Ypres and Arras, and was invalided home after a mustard gas attack. I was only 10 years old when he died, but I wish I could have talked to him about his experiences. This book gives a potted history of each year of the war followed by accounts of various survivors who were interviewed in the 1970's. I aim to read more of the Forgotten Voices series to further my knowledge. I received Harry Patch's The Last Fighting Tommy in the post today and look forward to reading his highly acclaimed account of his time in the trenches.

A window through time, 05 Nov 2008
War is never going to be a pleasant thing to read about, and this is no exception - it consists of testimonies from survivors, which have been cut into chunks and organised so that they refer to events in the order that they happened.

I happened across this in a charity shop at the end of October, and I can think of no better way to understand the real meaning of Armstice day - the absolute horror of the things they went through is something that I'd never be able to do. You get a real flavour of the way people were then too - women back in England handing out feathers (the symbol of a coward) to men in the street, completely unaware that a lot of them were back from the trenches sans uniform, which really affected the soldiers.

I won't go into the individual stories, but you can hear the voices rising from the page as you read - as an ex-actor, this is excellent source material if you're doing something set in this period.

A REALLY REALLY GOOD READ. Not many books have affected me as much as this one.

Voices of the Lost Generation, 30 Jul 2008
Forgotten Voices of the Great War is a collection of real life experiences of the First World War, as told by the ordinary people who lived through it.
I must admit that my knowledge of the First World War is a little blank. My only previous experience of this period was through school lessons about trench warfare, or by watching Blackadder goes forth. Therefore I can't make an analysis about the historical accuracy of the book. But what I can say is that I found it a very powerful and poignant work.

The author, Max Arthur, has spent several years listening to thousands of recordings of the men and women who lived during this period. These tapes were kept as archival records in the Imperial War Museum, after they were collected in 1972. These are essentially the voices of a lost generation. The book is divided into chapters that cover every year of the war, from 1914 to 1918. Within these chapters are accounts taken from individual campaigns or battles such as Gallipoli, The Second Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Mons.

Arthur has sifted through these records to bring out the most varied and unique stories. We are told about gas attacks, boredom or banter between soldiers, but we also get to hear the points of view of people like Elizabeth Owen, who was a schoolgirl at the outbreak of the war. Many of these stories are touching and funny, while others can be truly horrifying. In the section on Gallipoli for instance, we get a story of the games played between British and Turkish soldiers, with some of them throwing tinned bully beef and strings of figs to each other as presents. In the same section it also tells you of the horrible and undignified deaths caused by dysentry and other diseases, which will probably be some of the most terrible accounts of the war you will ever read.

This is an incredibly powerful and important book. If you have ever wondered about life during the First World War, then this book should be the first one you read. Extraordinay.

Not everyone can get to source documents, 23 May 2008
This book is now part of a series collated from the IWM archives. Not everyone can get to source documents through time or distance. This book has brought some of the sources into the public arena. Naturally such short personal reminicences give a fragmented picture. If you want opinions handed to you, read a 'definitive' history. All history books, however good, are shaped by the author. If a book like this makes you question recived wisdom, it has done its job.

Good, but difficult to put in context., 22 May 2008
This is an excellent collection of first-hand accounts of the Great War, from a variety of different contemporary contributors to that war.

The only problem with this book is that it divorces the account from much of the wider picture, so it tends to foster a 'I've read that book, I know all about WW1 now' sort of attitude. Perhaps it's just a reflection of our rushed aged, but I think the many other books, which describe some of the development of the war and intertwine similar first-hand accounts, do more justice to those milions who gave their lives on all sides, than a quick flit through this collection of stand-alone, very short stories.

Admittedly, the book has a very important role to play in appealing to those who may othwerwise not take an interest in WW1, so for that reason alone, it is a worthwhile production.

A Must Read..., 08 Nov 2008
What a fabulous read! The best I've read so far on this genre. Buy it, sit back and get your excuses ready! You won't be able to put it down...!

In the Shadow of Papillon: Seven Years of Hell in Venezuela's Prison System , 18 Aug 2008
Good Lord what a book it does not happen very often and i often 'force read' a lot of books but this was brilliant & i could not put it down xxx

Terrific!, 28 Jun 2008
I couldn't stop reading until the end of this book once I started. It describes the life in Venezuela's prisons vividly. I highly recommend this book!

And the truth will set you free, 04 Jan 2007
This is a book that will keep you glued to the pages. It will give you an insight into the corruption that exists in the world of the 'War on drugs' which is causing so much heartache. Very well written piece, that will take you on this man's harrowing journey through the penal system in Venezuela, to his eventual release and repatriation. This is a life changing story that will blow you away!

Must buy!, 04 Oct 2006
This is a terrific but disturbing insight into how justice is done outside of the modern world. I encourage anyone to read it if not only for the eye-opening accounts of day-to-day prison life. Many parts of the book lead you to ask yourself "what would i have done in that situation" or "how would i have handled it". The answer is you wouldn't which is why this book is a fantastic advertisement for keeping your feet firmly on the ground and not doing anything as stupid as trying to smuggle drugs through a corrupt ridden country. Buy it, read it, love it - take my word for it you won't be able to put it down.

beautiful cover, 02 Aug 2008
This book is a true inspiration to all garden lovers and even those who are not yet addicted to plants and gardens. It's well researched, easy to read and understand and with beautiful illustrations (especially those by Marianne North) it's a perfect present. John and Mary Gribbin have the talent of bringing together the story of eleven flower hunters, without compromising the scientific facts, and have created a very interesting book in their usual accessible style. This has pride of place on my coffee table and is a very important addition to my collection of gardening and flower books. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
Flower Hunters is a great read. Mary and John Gribbin tell the engaging stories of the earliest botanical explorers, really bringing their characters to life. They bring us the well researched details of these founding figures in the new science of Botany with an exciting narrative that makes you live their intrepid adventures.
Highly reccomend this book to everyone and avidly look forward to hopefully future books that continue the story on.

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
I recomend this excellent book to anyone both with a specific interest in Botany or a complete novice.
The text is very engaging and informative. I hope they write another book that takes us up to date with subsequent Flower Hunters.

Fascinating, 22 Apr 2008
What a brilliant read. This meticulously researched book weaves together the stories of the botanist adventurers of the 18th and 19th centuries to provide an extraordinary insight into their minds and motivations. The book flowed seamlessly from one story to the next, and provided the right balance between historical accuracy and a damn fine yarn. I was hooked from page one, and would recommend this book as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in gardening history.

Loved it!, 19 Apr 2008
I loved the quirky people. Their obsessions and energies led to our gardens being what they are today. Amazing.



Still relevant today, 06 Dec 2007
Here's something that often makes me laugh...

People who seem to have no Black friends, don't know any Black people other than at a distance (say in another department at work), have none in their social circle and who have no knowledge of 'Black' history, the history of racist thought and practice or its persistent legacy of discrimination are quick to say those magic words:

'I'm not racist'.

I've observed this many, many, many times. It often precedes 'but...' and someone saying something that often reveals staggering ignorance. Now I'm no mind reader but I would ask the question of anyone who says 'I'm not racist' - how do you know?

We all have opinions that we would do well to examine from time to time. I've heard people from different ethnic groups, countries etc say the most stupid things imaginable about 'other' people and even themselves. Men say stupid things about women, women say stupid things about men. Let's face it - stupidity is common currency all over the world.

This book, if honestly read and understood, is an antidote to the abject stupidity of racism.


A classic which fails to date, 22 Sep 2003
I've not much to add to the very positive reviews on Amazon about this book. It is very well written, with an economy of style and still provides an important exploration of the human condition. You will carry many of the episodes in the book around with you long after you've read it. But the one thing I thought that I could add is that I've just ordered another copy through Amazon. This is after having lost a good few copies over the years, lent/given to several of my former students (mainly 16-18 year olds) who seem to have found it both accessible and important. I can think of no other book that I've been so keen to share but so determined to replace.

Read 27 years ago; still the most meaningful book I've read, 27 Feb 2002
In High School in Canada this book was one of the required reading books. It gripped me then but over the past 27 years, it has become more and more meaningful. I am now a Learning Support Assistant at a Middle School in England and a few weeks ago, during Literacy Hour, the teacher asked the children if they could remember a book which had had a significant impact on them...I immediately thought of Black Like Me...I couldn't remember the author...but I immediately wished that it could be compulsory reading now. Maybe it would have a positive affect on children not only with regard to current day racisim, but also on the subject of bullying in its many disguises!

Thought provoking, and consciousness raising., 30 Jan 2002
I first read this book almost 15 years ago, following studying an extract in an English class school. It was and remains one of the most consciousness raising books I've ever read, and whilst the times which inspired it are gone, it is still relevant today because of the overall message that perception changes everything.

One of the most important works of our time, 04 Jul 2000
This book carries such a potent message that it should be compulsive reading for all. Last year I studied Race Relations: apartheid in South Africa and segregation in America, as part of my GCSE History syllabus and happened upon this book whilst browsing in the school library during an English lesson. From the moment I read the synopsis, I could not put it down. It's the true story of a white man who disguises himself as a black man and travels to the Deep South in the 1950s in order to discover what kind of life a black really lives in a place where racial hatred runs so deep. The results are incredible, heart-wrenching, and deeply disturbing. It inspires self-questioning. It made me wonder: if one can only learn of oneself by how he reacts to others and others react to him, then surely as other's perceptions of him change in reponse to a superficial outward characteristic such as skin colour, his inward sense or perception of self must also change, thus altering the essence of his soul and the nature of his self knowledge. Griffin found himself referring to blacks as 'we' and 'us', and he experienced a frightening identity crisis; after all, when you look black and others respond to you as black and either alienate or integrate you according to your blackness, the only thing preventing you from being black is your (literal) underlying whiteness! It poses questions about society, social groupings and appearances, and ultimately, how the fragile soul can be damaged or altered as a result of the reactions to the body it occupies. After all, does one's soul have a colour?

Killed a couple of hours with it, 08 Jan 2008
I did read it cover to cover non stop (but then again I had nothing better to do at the time). It was a frank and insightful look at the life of travellers through the eyes of one of their own, and the descriptions of the bare-knuckle fights were rather better than some I've read.

On the other hand, Stockin gleefully describes property damage, theft and GBH and then with the same breath, moans about how he can't understand why gypsies are despised and mistrusted by non-gypsies, which becomes irritating after a while.

starts promising but falls over its own hypocrisy..., 30 Dec 2007
This book was 'dictated' by the author who (quite proudly it seems) cannot read or write himself. There is even a 'I swear that all that is in this book is true...' type of preamble to the book which, I have to say, made me suspicious from the start.

However the stories told by Mr Cobbles are entertaining and you do get an insight into the 'travelling' life. However hypocrisy is obviously something this man is not aware of as while on one hand he berates us 'gorgeis' (those who live in houses) for unfairly tarring him and his fellow 'mushes/tinkers/gypsies etc' (all used in the book) as criminals or ne'er-do-wells, the next page he is winking and nudging all the way through his story how he and one of his pals 'aquired' a Truck and some paint so that no one would be able to track the stolen vehicle down. This is just one example of double-standards.

At the point he and his family were all 'forced' into a house and the subsequent pictures of him and his family all stood proudly smiling outside their nice semi in some suburban area next to the picture of his 'dear ol mum' getting into a hired strecth limo resplendent with Tiara, I stopped caring.

What this book needed was a good editing (what was the point of a picture of him drinking a cup of 'rosie' again?), but I feel that would have made the book too small. It was a diverting read, but fails about half way through to keep one's attention and you stop caring about the author.

On The Cobbles, 11 Dec 2007
Better than Pretty Boy and The Guv'nor, but not a patch on Bartley Gorman's book, not even close.

Brilliant, 21 Nov 2005
It takes me about a week to read an interesting Biography normally. This took me two days. I really got into it so much I felt as though I was there with them at times. This would make a fantastic film so someone should send Guy Richie a copy.
I hope I bump into Jim one day and I'll buy him a beer.

My favorite, 02 Mar 2004
I orderded a bunch of Bareknuckle boxing books off of Amazon.co.uk,
I read The Tarmac Warrior, The Guvnor, Roy Shaw, King of The Gypsy's, and On the Cobbles. By far my favorite fighter was Jimmy Stockin. He told his story in a down to earth way. He didnt hide behind an "I cant be beat attitude". He was just a guy who loved his family, worked to live, free spirit who could admit his losses, faults, and failures. And the way he kept getting up after all life throwed at him, he is a true champion. I knew nothing of Gypsy's before I read these Bareknuckle books. And the thing that struck me the most about "On the Cobbles". Is that this book made me wish I was a Gypsy or at least hung around some of them. It made me want to attend a Say and listen to the old men tell tales. I wanted to be blown by the wind of destiny and not be rooted in the same house all the time. I wanted to go to the race tracks and fairs. Its been along time since a book has spoken so loudly to me. This book transports you back in time and you live Jimmy's life with him. I was so upset at the death of Muggy, I felt sorrow reading about it. And I shared in the rage when his killers got off. Its not fair how the Gypsy's have been treated in England. And now their way of life is becoming extinct because of laws and regulations. This book is motivational, sad, funny, and violent. What an awesome combination! Give this one a shot, you wont be sorry.

Good luck Jimmy Dean Rocky Marciano Stockin. Im sure you'll do your father proud.

Post-modern rap, 26 Feb 2006
This is a post-modern take on race, racism, and particularly anti-racism in Britain between 1945 and 1985. Its fundamental suggestion seems to be that traditional Marxist approaches are not fully helpful in appreciating the value and significance of race issues. The book's emphasis is towards the Afro-Caribbean experience and looks closely at the anti-racist movements of the seventies and also and the popular music of the black 'diaspora' in Britain, the US and the Caribbean. In doing so it picks out the importance of culture as expressed in the life of the community and suggests revolution by a kind of cultural assertion.

Parts of the book verge on the unintelligible - 'These diverse elements combine syncretically in struggles to reconstruct a collective historical presence from the discontinuous, fractured histories of the African and Asian diasporas' - is fairly typical. Nevertheless Gilroy's enthusiasm and commitment comes through, he was there, you can smell the silk-screen presses making posters for Rock against Racism and get real insight into for instance what really happened on the Broadwater estate or the Bristol riots. There is a lot of detail and in my view a careful balance is maintained.

Gilroy adds a lengthy intro from 2002, somewhat more detached and resigned, but preserves his sense of humour. This is a very valuable overview of our 'multicultural society' for anyone who wants to penetrate the media waffle.

Compelling Reading, 18 Nov 2008
The recent 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War spurred me to seek out some literature on the subject. My mother's father fought at Ypres and Arras, and was invalided home after a mustard gas attack. I was only 10 years old when he died, but I wish I could have talked to him about his experiences. This book gives a potted history of each year of the war followed by accounts of various survivors who were interviewed in the 1970's. I aim to read more of the Forgotten Voices series to further my knowledge. I received Harry Patch's The Last Fighting Tommy in the post today and look forward to reading his highly acclaimed account of his time in the trenches.

A window through time, 05 Nov 2008
War is never going to be a pleasant thing to read about, and this is no exception - it consists of testimonies from survivors, which have been cut into chunks and organised so that they refer to events in the order that they happened.

I happened across this in a charity shop at the end of October, and I can think of no better way to understand the real meaning of Armstice day - the absolute horror of the things they went through is something that I'd never be able to do. You get a real flavour of the way people were then too - women back in England handing out feathers (the symbol of a coward) to men in the street, completely unaware that a lot of them were back from the trenches sans uniform, which really affected the soldiers.

I won't go into the individual stories, but you can hear the voices rising from the page as you read - as an ex-actor, this is excellent source material if you're doing something set in this period.

A REALLY REALLY GOOD READ. Not many books have affected me as much as this one.

Voices of the Lost Generation, 30 Jul 2008
Forgotten Voices of the Great War is a collection of real life experiences of the First World War, as told by the ordinary people who lived through it.
I must admit that my knowledge of the First World War is a little blank. My only previous experience of this period was through school lessons about trench warfare, or by watching Blackadder goes forth. Therefore I can't make an analysis about the historical accuracy of the book. But what I can say is that I found it a very powerful and poignant work.

The author, Max Arthur, has spent several years listening to thousands of recordings of the men and women who lived during this period. These tapes were kept as archival records in the Imperial War Museum, after they were collected in 1972. These are essentially the voices of a lost generation. The book is divided into chapters that cover every year of the war, from 1914 to 1918. Within these chapters are accounts taken from individual campaigns or battles such as Gallipoli, The Second Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Mons.

Arthur has sifted through these records to bring out the most varied and unique stories. We are told about gas attacks, boredom or banter between soldiers, but we also get to hear the points of view of people like Elizabeth Owen, who was a schoolgirl at the outbreak of the war. Many of these stories are touching and funny, while others can be truly horrifying. In the section on Gallipoli for instance, we get a story of the games played between British and Turkish soldiers, with some of them throwing tinned bully beef and strings of figs to each other as presents. In the same section it also tells you of the horrible and undignified deaths caused by dysentry and other diseases, which will probably be some of the most terrible accounts of the war you will ever read.

This is an incredibly powerful and important book. If you have ever wondered about life during the First World War, then this book should be the first one you read. Extraordinay.

Not everyone can get to source documents, 23 May 2008
This book is now part of a series collated from the IWM archives. Not everyone can get to source documents through time or distance. This book has brought some of the sources into the public arena. Naturally such short personal reminicences give a fragmented picture. If you want opinions handed to you, read a 'definitive' history. All history books, however good, are shaped by the author. If a book like this makes you question recived wisdom, it has done its job.

Good, but difficult to put in context., 22 May 2008
This is an excellent collection of first-hand accounts of the Great War, from a variety of different contemporary contributors to that war.

The only problem with this book is that it divorces the account from much of the wider picture, so it tends to foster a 'I've read that book, I know all about WW1 now' sort of attitude. Perhaps it's just a reflection of our rushed aged, but I think the many other books, which describe some of the development of the war and intertwine similar first-hand accounts, do more justice to those milions who gave their lives on all sides, than a quick flit through this collection of stand-alone, very short stories.

Admittedly, the book has a very important role to play in appealing to those who may othwerwise not take an interest in WW1, so for that reason alone, it is a worthwhile production.

A Must Read..., 08 Nov 2008
What a fabulous read! The best I've read so far on this genre. Buy it, sit back and get your excuses ready! You won't be able to put it down...!

In the Shadow of Papillon: Seven Years of Hell in Venezuela's Prison System , 18 Aug 2008
Good Lord what a book it does not happen very often and i often 'force read' a lot of books but this was brilliant & i could not put it down xxx

Terrific!, 28 Jun 2008
I couldn't stop reading until the end of this book once I started. It describes the life in Venezuela's prisons vividly. I highly recommend this book!

And the truth will set you free, 04 Jan 2007
This is a book that will keep you glued to the pages. It will give you an insight into the corruption that exists in the world of the 'War on drugs' which is causing so much heartache. Very well written piece, that will take you on this man's harrowing journey through the penal system in Venezuela, to his eventual release and repatriation. This is a life changing story that will blow you away!

Must buy!, 04 Oct 2006
This is a terrific but disturbing insight into how justice is done outside of the modern world. I encourage anyone to read it if not only for the eye-opening accounts of day-to-day prison life. Many parts of the book lead you to ask yourself "what would i have done in that situation" or "how would i have handled it". The answer is you wouldn't which is why this book is a fantastic advertisement for keeping your feet firmly on the ground and not doing anything as stupid as trying to smuggle drugs through a corrupt ridden country. Buy it, read it, love it - take my word for it you won't be able to put it down.

beautiful cover, 02 Aug 2008
This book is a true inspiration to all garden lovers and even those who are not yet addicted to plants and gardens. It's well researched, easy to read and understand and with beautiful illustrations (especially those by Marianne North) it's a perfect present. John and Mary Gribbin have the talent of bringing together the story of eleven flower hunters, without compromising the scientific facts, and have created a very interesting book in their usual accessible style. This has pride of place on my coffee table and is a very important addition to my collection of gardening and flower books. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
Flower Hunters is a great read. Mary and John Gribbin tell the engaging stories of the earliest botanical explorers, really bringing their characters to life. They bring us the well researched details of these founding figures in the new science of Botany with an exciting narrative that makes you live their intrepid adventures.
Highly reccomend this book to everyone and avidly look forward to hopefully future books that continue the story on.

Flower Hunters, 02 Aug 2008
I recomend this excellent book to anyone both with a specific interest in Botany or a complete novice.
The text is very engaging and informative. I hope they write another book that takes us up to date with subsequent Flower Hunters.

Fascinating, 22 Apr 2008
What a brilliant read. This meticulously researched book weaves together the stories of the botanist adventurers of the 18th and 19th centuries to provide an extraordinary insight into their minds and motivations. The book flowed seamlessly from one story to the next, and provided the right balance between historical accuracy and a damn fine yarn. I was hooked from page one, and would recommend this book as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in gardening history.

Loved it!, 19 Apr 2008
I loved the quirky people. Their obsessions and energies led to our gardens being what they are today. Amazing.



Still relevant today, 06 Dec 2007
Here's something that often makes me laugh...

People who seem to have no Black friends, don't know any Black people other than at a distance (say in another department at work), have none in their social circle and who have no knowledge of 'Black' history, the history of racist thought and practice or its persistent legacy of discrimination are quick to say those magic words:

'I'm not racist'.

I've observed this many, many, many times. It often precedes 'but...' and someone saying something that often reveals staggering ignorance. Now I'm no mind reader but I would ask the question of anyone who says 'I'm not racist' - how do you know?

We all have opinions that we would do well to examine from time to time. I've heard people from different ethnic groups, countries etc say the most stupid things imaginable about 'other' people and even themselves. Men say stupid things about women, women say stupid things about men. Let's face it - stupidity is common currency all over the world.

This book, if honestly read and understood, is an antidote to the abject stupidity of racism.


A classic which fails to date, 22 Sep 2003
I've not much to add to the very positive reviews on Amazon about this book. It is very well written, with an economy of style and still provides an important exploration of the human condition. You will carry many of the episodes in the book around with you long after you've read it. But the one thing I thought that I could add is that I've just ordered another copy through Amazon. This is after having lost a good few copies over the years, lent/given to several of my former students (mainly 16-18 year olds) who seem to have found it both accessible and important. I can think of no other book that I've been so keen to share but so determined to replace.

Read 27 years ago; still the most meaningful book I've read, 27 Feb 2002
In High School in Canada this book was one of the required reading books. It gripped me then but over the past 27 years, it has become more and more meaningful. I am now a Learning Support Assistant at a Middle School in England and a few weeks ago, during Literacy Hour, the teacher asked the children if they could remember a book which had had a significant impact on them...I immediately thought of Black Like Me...I couldn't remember the author...but I immediately wished that it could be compulsory reading now. Maybe it would have a positive affect on children not only with regard to current day racisim, but also on the subject of bullying in its many disguises!

Thought provoking, and consciousness raising., 30 Jan 2002
I first read this book almost 15 years ago, following studying an extract in an English class school. It was and remains one of the most consciousness raising books I've ever read, and whilst the times which inspired it are gone, it is still relevant today because of the overall message that perception changes everything.

One of the most important works of our time, 04 Jul 2000
This book carries such a potent message that it should be compulsive reading for all. Last year I studied Race Relations: apartheid in South Africa and segregation in America, as part of my GCSE History syllabus and happened upon this book whilst browsing in the school library during an English lesson. From the moment I read the synopsis, I could not put it down. It's the true story of a white man who disguises himself as a black man and travels to the Deep South in the 1950s in order to discover what kind of life a black really lives in a place where racial hatred runs so deep. The results are incredible, heart-wrenching, and deeply disturbing. It inspires self-questioning. It made me wonder: if one can only learn of oneself by how he reacts to others and others react to him, then surely as other's perceptions of him change in reponse to a superficial outward characteristic such as skin colour, his inward sense or perception of self must also change, thus altering the essence of his soul and the nature of his self knowledge. Griffin found himself referring to blacks as 'we' and 'us', and he experienced a frightening identity crisis; after all, when you look black and others respond to you as black and either alienate or integrate you according to your blackness, the only thing preventing you from being black is your (literal) underlying whiteness! It poses questions about society, social groupings and appearances, and ultimately, how the fragile soul can be damaged or altered as a result of the reactions to the body it occupies. After all, does one's soul have a colour?

Killed a couple of hours with it, 08 Jan 2008
I did read it cover to cover non stop (but then again I had nothing better to do at the time). It was a frank and insightful look at the life of travellers through the eyes of one of their own, and the descriptions of the bare-knuckle fights were rather better than some I've read.

On the other hand, Stockin gleefully describes property damage, theft and GBH and then with the same breath, moans about how he can't understand why gypsies are despised and mistrusted by non-gypsies, which becomes irritating after a while.

starts promising but falls over its own hypocrisy..., 30 Dec 2007
This book was 'dictated' by the author who (quite proudly it seems) cannot read or write himself. There is even a 'I swear that all that is in this book is true...' type of preamble to the book which, I have to say, made me suspicious from the start.

However the stories told by Mr Cobbles are entertaining and you do get an insight into the 'travelling' life. However hypocrisy is obviously something this man is not aware of as while on one hand he berates us 'gorgeis' (those who live in houses) for unfairly tarring him and his fellow 'mushes/tinkers/gypsies etc' (all used in the book) as criminals or ne'er-do-wells, the next page he is winking and nudging all the way through his story how he and one of his pals 'aquired' a Truck and some paint so that no one would be able to track the stolen vehicle down. This is just one example of double-standards.

At the point he and his family were all 'forced' into a house and the subsequent pictures of him and his family all stood proudly smiling outside their nice semi in some suburban area next to the picture of his 'dear ol mum' getting into a hired strecth limo resplendent with Tiara, I stopped caring.

What this book needed was a good editing (what was the point of a picture of him drinking a cup of 'rosie' again?), but I feel that would have made the book too small. It was a diverting read, but fails about half way through to keep one's attention and you stop caring about the author.

On The Cobbles, 11 Dec 2007
Better than Pretty Boy and The Guv'nor, but not a patch on Bartley Gorman's book, not even close.

Brilliant, 21 Nov 2005
It takes me about a week to read an interesting Biography normally. This took me two days. I really got into it so much I felt as though I was there with them at times. This would make a fantastic film so someone should send Guy Richie a copy.
I hope I bump into Jim one day and I'll buy him a beer.

My favorite, 02 Mar 2004
I orderded a bunch of Bareknuckle boxing books off of Amazon.co.uk,
I read The Tarmac Warrior, The Guvnor, Roy Shaw, King of The Gypsy's, and On the Cobbles. By far my favorite fighter was Jimmy Stockin. He told his story in a down to earth way. He didnt hide behind an "I cant be beat attitude". He was just a guy who loved his family, worked to live, free spirit who could admit his losses, faults, and failures. And the way he kept getting up after all life throwed at him, he is a true champion. I knew nothing of Gypsy's before I read these Bareknuckle books. And the thing that struck me the most about "On the Cobbles". Is that this book made me wish I was a Gypsy or at least hung around some of them. It made me want to attend a Say and listen to the old men tell tales. I wanted to be blown by the wind of destiny and not be rooted in the same house all the time. I wanted to go to the race tracks and fairs. Its been along time since a book has spoken so loudly to me. This book transports you back in time and you live Jimmy's life with him. I was so upset at the death of Muggy, I felt sorrow reading about it. And I shared in the rage when his killers got off. Its not fair how the Gypsy's have been treated in England. And now their way of life is becoming extinct because of laws and regulations. This book is motivational, sad, funny, and violent. What an awesome combination! Give this one a shot, you wont be sorry.

Good luck Jimmy Dean Rocky Marciano Stockin. Im sure you'll do your father proud.

Post-modern rap, 26 Feb 2006
This is a post-modern take on race, racism, and particularly anti-racism in Britain between 1945 and 1985. Its fundamental suggestion seems to be that traditional Marxist approaches are not fully helpful in appreciating the value and significance of race issues. The book's emphasis is towards the Afro-Caribbean experience and looks closely at the anti-racist movements of the seventies and also and the popular music of the black 'diaspora' in Britain, the US and the Caribbean. In doing so it picks out the importance of culture as expressed in the life of the community and suggests revolution by a kind of cultural assertion.

Parts of the book verge on the unintelligible - 'These diverse elements combine syncretically in struggles to reconstruct a collective historical presence from the discontinuous, fractured h