A monumental new history of British conflict, publishing for the eightieth anniversary of VE Day ''An impressive audit of the monuments all around us and their often forgotten back-stories. A hundred individual histories, skillfully assembled, built into a poignant meditation on why they still matter.'' David Olusoga Published for the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War Two, this moving book examines the inspirations and individuals behind our memorial-studded country. Acclaimed historian Tessa Dunlop travels the length and breadth of the United Kingdom on a quest to uncover a story of national warring and national mourning, of fighting each other and of fighting together. In so doing, Lest We Forget summons a stellar cast of veterans, military experts and families of the fallen to reveal what our monuments and war heroes say about us, both then and now. Why did Scotland take nearly 600 years to commemorate its most famous freedom fighter? When did Wellington become anti-Establishment? Who are the Glorious Dead? Can the Cenotaph stay above politics? And how do you commemorate contested, asymmetrical wars? Through veteran testimony and contemporary voices like Falklands hero Simon Weston and HRH The Duke of Kent, Tessa brings to life the pride and the pain involved in commemorating 2,000 years of war and peace across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales in a monumental British story. Lest We Forget, freedom is not free. ''In this wonderfully incisive, moving and timely book about commemoration, Dunlop breathes life into 100 British monuments - some famous, others less so - that together reveal our island story.
A stunning achievement.'' Saul David BESTSELLING AND PRIZEWINNING AUTHOR. Tessa Dunlop is renowned for having her finger on the pulse of history and its resonances today, with her bestselling histories Army Girls, To Romania with Love, The Bletchley Girls, The Century Girls, Elizabeth and Philip. HIGH-PROFILE ENDORSERS We should expect endorsements from celebrated historians of war like Max Hastings, Saul David, Tom Holland, Keith Lowe, Dominic Sandbrook, William Dalrymple, Lucy Worsley and Kate Williams. WELL-DEFINED CORE AUDIENCE includes subscribers to the Spectator, the Sunday Times, History Today, the New Statesman, the LRB. Listeners of The Rest is History, In Our Time, and Today. ANNIVERSARY PUBLICITY May 2025 is not just a significant anniversary for World War Two, it is the 80th anniversary of the end of a war that has become the most revered in British history. Eight decades on we are still memorialising World War Two and erecting statues - to women, evacuees, Kindertransport children RECOGNISED AUTHORITY ON SECOND WORLD WAR.
Tess has always been well reviewed by the biggest names and writes beautifully and intimately on the long-term consequences of WW2 in particular. REGULAR SPEAKER ON TV AND RADIO. Tessa has a proven track record for promoting books widely and effectively across numerous media outlets. She appears regularly on TV and is an accomplished live performer on the festival and lecture circuit. EVOCATIVE ROUTE INTO SUBJECT. This book gives an involving, evocative history and social history through the feelings that memorials evoke, But there is also lots of local interest to each of the 90 places Tessa visits in her travelogue. MEMORIALS ARE ALWAYS IN THE NEWS. Memorials are often subject to protests or ideological battles, and the media pays attention when an argument develops.
CURRENT EXAMPLE: the decision by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last budget to allocate £1m to a statue recognising the contribution of Muslim soldiers in WW2. Competition: Prisoners of Geography; The Second World War; Fear and the Freedom; All Hell Let Loose; Age of Walls; Savage Continent. Tim Marshall; Antony Beevor; Max Hastings; Peter Hennessy; tom holland;Saul David; Ben Macintyre; Sinclair mckay;Ian Kershaw; John Nichol; David Olusoga; Lucy Worsley.