The Lost Battlefields of Britain
Published: Amberley (UK) 2022
No major battle has taken place on British soil since the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Almost three centuries of the absence of war on the island has generated a complacency which blinds us to the horrific violence and bloodshed which raged on these isles for over 1,700 years. For many younger people, war is a seeming anachronism, a reminder of an unsophisticated, almost barbaric past. For other people, our military history recalls more glorious days, when British military skill helped to establish a vast overseas empire.
Martin Wall examines our long and blood-soaked history from the Roman invasions until modern times. This is by no means just a story of honour, courage and glory, but of the terrible suffering war has caused through the centuries – and the epigenetic trauma it has bequeathed us, which continues to influence our national culture even today.
Reviews
Once I was into the fray, I found it difficult to put this book down. It moves at a blistering pace which matches the content perfectly, and even though fairly well detailed, the writing never gets bogged down.
From Caractus to Glyndwr, Edric the wild to Richard III to Cromwell, the heroes and villains spring off the page and history comes alive. It’s fact mixed with Legend, Myth and autobiography, which gives texture and depth to the writing.
The author obviously does not relish the horrors of war, and this comes through in the handling of the people who suffer throughout the book, be they the winners or losers. In fact we see that there are no winners in war, and often nothing is gained. I think we should hope and pray with the author that these events should one day become lost, not to our memories, but to future generations.
The publishers are, it seems, aiming this volume at a different readership to that of Martin Wall’s previous volumes: there’s not so much as a ‘by the same author’ in the front. To an extent, this is justified: it’s a far more matter-of-fact narrative than we’ve seen before from the author – none of the visionary inspiration we got in The Magical History of Britain. This, of course, fits with his main point which is that battles are a down-to-earth and morally repugnant business and that any nostalgia for what are perceived as nobler times is ludicrously misplaced. His conclusion, in which such attitudes are most clear, could have been a bit longer and more well developed but the unblinking way in which he drags us through a succession of bloodbaths from Caesar to Cromwell fulfils the book’s purpose effectively.
Latest News
Warriors and Kings: The 1500-Year Battle for Celtic Britain – An Interview with Martin Wall19th July 2024 - 12:22 pm- ‘West: Tales of the Lost Lands’ review in Country Life Magazine16th March 2023 - 12:33 pm
- Author Martin Wall is interviewed by Charles Christian on The Weird Tales Radio Show22nd December 2019 - 1:52 pm
- Robert Plant sings his praises for Kinver author’s magic book16th September 2019 - 5:55 pm
- Listen – Martin is interviewed by Paul Ross on Talk Radio24th June 2019 - 5:54 pm
Books by Martin Wall
- West: Tales of the Lost Lands by Martin Wall9th November 2022 - 1:43 pm
- The Lost Battlefields of Britain by Martin Wall16th February 2022 - 4:31 pm
- The Magical History of Britain by Martin Wall19th September 2019 - 4:38 pm
- Warriors and Kings, The 1500-Year Battle For Celtic Britain by Martin Wall1st June 2017 - 1:06 pm
- The Anglo-Saxons in 100 Facts by Martin Wall15th June 2016 - 4:22 pm
Upcoming Events
- Bewdley Festival of the Arts19th July 2024 - 12:39 pm
