Our corner of the Somme : Australia at Villers-Bretonneux / Romain Fathi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fathi, Romain, author.

Series:

Australian Army history series.

Australian Army history series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Australia. Australian Army. Australian Imperial Force (1914-1921)--History.

Australia.

World War, 1914-1918--Australia.

World War, 1914-1918.

World War, 1914-1918--France--Amiens.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xx, 270 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2019.

Summary:

By the time of the Armstice, Villers-Bretonneux - once a lively and flourishing French town - had been largely destroyed, and half its population had fled or died. From March to August 1918, Villers-Bretonneux formed part of an active front line, at which Australian troops were heavily involved. As a result, it holds a significant place in Australian history. Villers-Bretonneux has since become an open-air memorial to Australia's participation in the First World War. Successive Australian governments have valourised the Australian engagement, contributing to an evolving Anzac narrative that has become entrenched in Australia's national identity. Our Corner of the Somme provides an eye-opening analysis of the memorialisation of Australia's role on the Western Front and the Anzac mythology that so heavily contributes to Australians' understanding of themselves. In this rigorous and richly detailed study, Romain Fathi challenges accepted historiography by examining the assembly, projection and performance of Australia's national identity in northern France.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 26 Mar 2019).

ISBN:

1-108-65059-7

1-108-55888-7

1-108-69251-6