“Every Englishman has a picture of the Somme in his mind, and I will not try to enlarge it.”
Beginning on 1 July and ending on 18 November 1916, the Battle of the Somme has gone down as one of the most infamous battles from the First World War, and one of the bloodiest battles in human history. Fought between forces of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against Imperial Germany, it was designed by the Allies to relieve the French at the Battle of Verdun and provide a decisive blow on the Western Front.
One of the first battles to illustrate the power of tank and air warfare is notable for it. Out of the three million men who took part in the offensive, it would either kill or wound over a million of them. The infamous legacy of the battle has remained significant across history, especially for those in Britain, so why not learn more about it with the best Battle of the Somme books at What We Reading.
The Somme – Peter Hart
Peter Hart’s The Somme is one of the most praised accounts of the infamous World War One battle and still stands as one of the most comprehensive guides to a chapter in British history that would define an entire generation. Hart opens with the strategic thinking behind the Somme as the big ‘Push’ that was intended to punch through the stalemate of the Western Front.
He then vividly brings to life the catastrophic opening day events, exploring how the British lost twenty thousand men in just twenty-four hours. Weaving diary entries and first-hand accounts into his recounting, The Somme makes for a beautifully tragic tribute that ultimately captures the futility of the proclaimed ‘war to end all wars’.
The Battle Of The Somme: The Story Of The Deadliest Battle In WWI – Alan Axelrod
Released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the engagement, Alan Axelrod offers a fresh perspective on the Battle of the Somme. Exploring the key personalities as well as the political and strategic significance of the battle, it’s an enthralling account that offers a fresh perspective on one of the most infamous battles from World War One.
Axelrod succeeds in putting the Somme in the context of modern warfare, technology and political attitudes, helping readers gain an understanding of its enduring significance in history.
Through German Eyes: The British And The Somme, 1916 – Christopher Duffy
Whilst the Battle of the Somme has been consistently recounted from a British narrative, Christopher Duffy attempts to provide an alternative perception in his book, Through German Eyes. In it, Duffy delves into archival material including long-lost interviews of British POWs by German interrogators.
Through this eye-opening content, readers gain an understanding of how the battle of the Somme was viewed from the German side of the fighting. Split between three parts, it is one of the best Battle of the Somme books for gaining a comprehensive view of the entire offensive.
The Somme: The Epic Battle In The Soldiers’ Own Words And Photographs – Richard van Emden
In The Somme, author Richard van Emden vividly brings to life the horrors of one of the bloodiest battles in human history through the words and imagery of the people living through it.
The first book of its kind, this WW1 bestselling novelist allows the soldiers in the Kitchener’s Pals Battalions to tell their tales from the battlefield. A combination of high-quality imagery and first-hand accounts help bring the campaign to life, painting the camaraderie and carnage at play throughout the battle.
The Battle Of The Somme: An Introduction To World War One’s Bloodiest Battle – Rupert Colley
For one of the best books on the Battle of the Somme that captures the lives and heroism of those who fought in it, Rupert Colley’s 2016 work is still a must-read. This sweeping deep-dive into the battle focuses on the build-up and preparations for the offensive, the roles of individuals like Douglas Haig, the devastating opening day for the British and a closing summary of the war following the battle’s conclusion.
Featuring high-quality imagery, Colley takes a personalised approach to exploring the battlefield, whisking readers into the heart of the carnage by painting a portrait through the eyes of individuals present such as Harold MacMillan, Siegfried Sassoon, Adolf Hitler, J.R.R. Tolkien and Walter Tull.
Visiting The Somme And Ypres Battlefields Made Easy: A Helpful Guide Book For Groups And Individuals – Gareth Hughes
For those looking to pay homage to the Battle of the Somme by visiting it in the flesh, Gareth Hughes’ Visiting the Somme and Ypres Battlefields Made Easy is the ultimate guide. Designed for educational tours but also invaluable to solo and group travellers, Hughes provides the best itineraries complete with facts and information designed to inform, entertain and educate.
Complete with relevant photos and maps, it is the ultimate book for gaining a geographical understanding of WW1’s biggest battlefields.
Somme: The Heroism And Horror Of War – Martin Gilbert
One of the most acclaimed historical writers of his generation, Martin Gilbert paints the horrors of the Battle of the Somme in his 2006 work. Renowned for his biography on the likes of Winston Churchill as well as his works on the Great War, Gilbert delves into the incredible heroism demonstrated by the men on the frontlines.
Interweaving wartime documents, individual stories as well as letters and pieces of poetry alongside a sweeping and emotive narrative, it is a powerful guide to the Somme and the utter barbarity of trench warfare along the Western Front.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
