'[A] characteristically workmanlike book.' -- Daily Telegraph 20060701 Praise for Martin Gilbert: -- . 'In his transmission of the horror of the war, Martin Gilbert has achieved something probably no historian but he could' -- John Keegan, The Sunday Times 'A masterly panorama ! Gilbert never forgets -- and never allows his readers to forget -- that the "embattled armies" were composed of millions of individuals, that it is the human experience and the human cost that matters' -- Lyn MacDonald, Sunday Times 'An immensely readable epitome of one of the most complex events in history' -- Paul Johnson, Evening Standard 'Lucid, comprehensive and authoritative' -- Philip Zeigler, Daily Telegraph 'Martin Gilbert is an exceptionally gifted historian with the zest to ferret out all kinds of source materials and the skill to analyse and to interpret them cogently and convincingly' -- Asa Briggs, Guardian 'A war book that is powerful indeed.' -- BBC History magazine 20060703 'By homing in on the Somme, [Gilbert] has produced a superb book that works not only as history but as a guide for visitors to the battlefield today. Amongst the slew of new titles we can expect commemorating the battle, this stands unrivalled' -- Good Book Guide 20060703 'Tireless ! a day-by-day account of the fight, triumph and tragedy hand in hand' -- Spectator 20060701 '[An] admirably comprehensive book.' -- Literary Review 20060701

Martin Gilbert is the Official Biographer of Sir Winston Churchill; his prolific output on this stubect include the one-volume biography, Churchill: A Life. Among his other books are: First World War, Second World War, D-Day and The Day the War Ended, as well as a magisterial three-volume History Of The Twentieth Century, and twelve historical atlases. Martin Gilbert was knighted in 1995. Two years later he was awarded a Doctorate of Literature at Oxford University for the totality of his historical work.