Van Emden himself is nothing more than a fleeting presence throughout, offering a few paragraphs here and there to give a background to the events as they unfolded, leaving the troops themselves to tell the story – and it’s that that makes the book so compelling.

What’s more, the author has unearthed a rich catalogue of photographs taken – often illegally – by frontline personnel; there’s no whitewashing of events here, or skirting around issues, they’re brought to the fore in moving and occasionally disturbing detail.

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On: Yorkshire magazine - reviewed by Sarah Morgan

The Road to Passchendaele: The Heroic Year in Soldiers' own Words and Photographs" by First World War historian Richard van Emden draws upon diaries and memoirs, as well as original photographs taken on illegally held cameras by the soldiers themselves to tells the story of one of the bloodiest conflicts of 1917 known as the Battle of Passchendaele. van Emden draws from his outstanding collection of over 5,000 privately taken and overwhelmingly unpublished photographs, revealing the battle as it was seen by the men involved, an existence that was sometimes exhilarating, too often terrifying, and occasionally even fun. Published in time for the 100th anniversary of the epic Battle of Passchendaele which began on 31st July 1917, "The Road to Passchendaele" is a timely and timeless contribution to the growing library of World War I histories and memoirs.

Midwest Book Review

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Life in Farnham

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Military History Monthly, December 2017

Unlike many other works where personal accounts are used, in this excellent volume they comprise the bulk of the narrative and the author uses a very light touch to keep the narrative flowing through. This has been done using two different fonts, which works exceptionally well and allows the reader to see immediately who is narrating the passage they are reading. Many of our readers will be familiar with Van Emden's work and his style and authority when writing on the subject. I felt this was one of his best volumes to date, allowing the men to tell their own story.

A must-have volume. 10/10

The Great War magazine, November 2017 – reviewed by Mark Marsay

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Kent Messenger

The stories in this book resonate and are so poignant, whilst the accompanying visual photographs are mind blowing.

Jon Sandison, Freelance

Fascinating.

Best of British, September 2017 - reviewed by David Brown

'...what must be remembered is that the men who fought at Passchendaele were real people, with hopes, dreams and fears. Richard van Emden's excellent book brilliantly illustrates this for it is the stories of the battle told by those who were there, the ordinary soldiers, the officers, the British and the Germans.'

Cotswold Life Magazine

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East Grinstead Courier

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Kent & Sussex Courier

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Mail Online 3/9/17

The author has established a reputation for detailed knowledge of the Great War and has interviewed more than 270 veterans, writing seventeen books on the subject. An excellent account that makes great use of the actual words of the survivors of a campaign that epitomizes the Great War. These words are accompanied by a wealth of images that span the stages of the campaign – Highly Recommended.

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Firetrench

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Sunday People 3/9/17

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BBC History, September 2017

Lavishly illustrated and well-written this is an ideal place for the Passchendaele novice to start.

Guild of Battlefield Guides

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Oxford Mail

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Barnsley Chronicle

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The Spectator - article by Peter Parker

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Calibre Quarterly, July 2017

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Military History Monthly, May 2017

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The Bookseller 10/3/17