Prisoners of History is a well-researched, well-written work that provides a multifaceted view of monuments through the lens of WWII monuments. Lowe provides the perspective of both the countries of origin for those statues and museums as well as the counterpoint of other nations. The insight into national psychology was interesting. I appreciated the thoughtful reflection on both pros and cons of removing historical statuary and also suggestions on how those items could be repurposed to reflect more modern sensibilities while not destroying them altogether.

This book considers 25 WWII monuments around the world, categorized into "Heroes," "Martyrs," "Monsters," "Apocalypse," and "Rebirth." I liked that the book begins with maps of the various locations of the monuments, such as the USA, UK, Russia, and Japan, among others. The monuments also range in age, from those built immediately after the war to those still under construction. It is an interesting cultural comparison to look at how some monuments express more pride and triumph, while others reflect sorrow and grief. I didn't agree with the author's notion that taking down monuments is always "iconoclasm" that comes in waves and might be prevented: situations are generally more complex than they seem, and some monuments may simply outlive their meaning or usefulness to society and there simply isn't space to keep every object in place forever.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Interesting book talking about monuments and statues. Published at a time when we are witnessing monuments being torn down, it was a good read, but this is one that I think I want to read again, and spend more time diving into the thought process of the author.

A very interesting look at what WWII monuments and memorials meant when they were erected and how their meanings may have changed since then. This is a timely and thought-provoking book considering the debate over removing, replacing, or modifying Confederate monuments and memorials.

Prisoners of History: What Monuments to World War II Tell Us about Our History and Ourselves is an fascinating look at WWII era monuments. There is some areas I would have liked the author had touched on but the book is definitely worth reading. Three stars.

Prisoners of History is a profound, informative book published at exactly the right time. As monuments are being taken down in cities around the world, Lowe examines what monuments mean to people, and how monuments link people to their history. I found the book thought-provoking. Lowe approaches monuments and history from a whole-world position, and it’s fascinating to read about the different ways that various countries have memorialized WWII. The book is well-written and easy to read, has pictures of each monument discussed, and is nicely organized. Monuments to heroes, martyrs, monsters, the devastation of war itself, and the fraught process of reconciliation are mentioned and examined in careful detail.
With moving descriptions of events and choices both awesome and brutal, Prisoners of History does make one thing abundantly clear – monuments aren’t just statues or installations with plaques and names. Monuments link people and history, inevitably and inextricably. The examples Lowe shares can help readers understand previously unseen aspects of WWII, but can also shed light on a new way of viewing other monuments and markers to human history.
I greatly enjoyed this book, and feel I learned a lot from it. It’s not political, though some of the monuments are very political, and some of the content is somewhat graphic, as war is brutal and Lowe doesn’t shy away from that. Nevertheless, I think the topics explored in Prisoners of History are important and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the book.

The importance of this book cannot be overstated. it is a timely look at our relationship with statues dedicated to history. One only has to look at the arguments made against removing confederate statues from public spaces to see the relevance.

Addressing this issue of accepting statues at face-value of being accurate representations of a moment in time in our history of war is done quite well within these pages. The author not only looks at how these monuments are written about, talked about, and viewed in the US, but looks at various monuments to the very same war and how they are viewed in countries around the world. In total he discusses 25 different monuments, from the US, to Italy, to Jerusalem, China, and many in between.

The photographs are stunning and for once I was glad to have received the file for my laptop only instead of my Kindle. Even though I hate sitting at my laptop to read, the photos alone were nearly enough to make it worth it. This truly is a book to have a physical copy of to peruse at your leisure. I don't feel it is a book meant to be read quickly or in just a couple of sittings. It will definitely give anyone pause who has visited these sites, and perhaps grapple with how one originally interpreted the monument, compared to its original and intended purpose.

One of the biggest take-aways from this book is the vast difference in how World War II is memorialized. Here in the US, our statues are to honor the heroes and our triumph over true and despicable evil. Yet around the world, monuments are most often dedicated to the victims - such as Italy's Shrine to the Fallen or The A Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. I think this again confirms the fact that the US often equates winning and patriotism - though it must also be remembered that aside from Pearl Harbor, World War II was not fought here. The monuments to the victims and the fallen are most often literally on the site of the atrocities they represent.

Lowe provides much context for the various events being commemorated by each statue. The research is thorough and he writes in an engaging way. He certainly gives the reader a lot to think about - both regarding those he is writing about, and the specific issue in the US regarding confederate monuments still standing.

When we come upon these monuments, either because we've specifically taken a trip to see them or we stumble upon them by accident, we must not stop asking ourselves to look beyond the scenery as it being another pretty picture for photo ops. We have to consider the original intended purpose of the statue, what aspect of history is being told, and whether or not it is actually accurate in its depiction.

Highly recommended.

Well written with a narrative that makes this book difficult to put down.. The history provided about each monument discussed provided insight and a greater understanding of the why of the monument's purpose. With the current climate and the way people view monuments as the actual and only way to remember history, this book is very timely.

I have already recommended or even purchased copies for others. This is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this as an EARC.

Informative enlightening I learned about these worldwide monuments their meaning their history.For history buffs or anyone curious about monuments I highly recommend.#netgalley #st.martins

This was a very informative book, with some controversial topics, namely the monuments that many countries have erected in remembrance of WWII. Some of the statues have had some HUGE issues and raised quite a bit of alarm and fighting.

The one in Jersey City is dear to my heart, if only because I lived there, but the story behind it is just as touching and sad too. I didn't even know it was there when I lived there, so I have to go back to visit, just to see it. Amazing how one can live somewhere and not even know of the history present there. So I did learn a lot from this book.

It was also, given the topic, incredibly depressing. The author doesn't shy away from the horrors of the war, and nor should he. By ignoring the past and not learning from it, we will only repeat it over and over again, which shouldn't be allowed to happen.

However, the topic is a grim one and he does state a few inflammatory things as well, so this is a book that will educate, annoy to anger and sadden the reader. I had to put it down during the Advent season, as I didn't want it to bring me any more down than I already was with Pandemic Christmas this year. Not the book's fault, just somewhat awkward timing.

Definitely a good book for history buffs, especially if they are into WWII. This book includes monuments that are all over the world, so very inclusive, as a book involving a World War should be.

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3, as he irked me to no end with his take on America (he's British and did knock his country worse than America, but I didn't agree with his assessment. If he was right, I would agree and not have my anger riled up. As it was? Yeah, no, he was not correct, #sorrynotsorry.) and this book was rather depressing.

It will definitely be appreciated by the right audience. Not saying I am or am not the right audience, just that the timing for me wasn't great.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

This is a really interesting look at some of the monuments to World War II that have been established around the world. The author provides background information throughout about the timing of monuments in various locales and how some of the monuments are viewed (differently) outside of the area they were established in. I thought he presented a pretty balanced view of each location he chose to include in this book. It definitely gives us a lot to think about. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to look at differing viewpoints.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.

What Monuments Tell Us

Keith Lowe tells an important story about war, in this case WWII, through the monuments erected by the participants. In the US the monuments depict victory, in Europe the monuments usually immortalize the victims, in Japan the monument A Bomb Dome depicts great tragedy. These are only a sample of the twenty-five monuments Lowe discusses.

I found it fascinating to realize how different countries view war through the memorials they erect. In Lowe’s view, the sentiments depicted by the monuments structure the way we view WWII. His case is persuasive, but I wasn’t convinced. I think memorials can color our view, but there are many other ways to get information and decide what we believe about war, specifically WWII since it is now quite far in the past.

I recommend this book for two reasons. It is an excellent source of information some of it even as a history buff you may not be familiar with. The second reason is the relevance to the destruction of monuments we see across the country today. Those monuments are primarily related to the Civil War, but this book asks us to think about what pulling down monuments means. Can we erase history?

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. Interesting history of the war with pictures of the monuments and what they were about. Bit too political but the history was enlightening.

What a well-researched and thoughtful history of W2 memorials. I liked that the book includes photographs of each monument so the reader can have a visual guide to the monuments he is describing. He situates the construction of each monument in its historical context: when was the memorial built and why was it built in that format? The author does a fantastic job of explaining how and why each memorial came into existence, and how each one's meaning differs in today's cultural context.

I especially appreciated the wide range of countries Lowe includes. It brings a truly global sense of what the world remembers and thinks about World War 2.

It is an eye opening exposure of the world wide effects of WWII. Americans have a tendency to miss how the war affected the entire planet. The book' sociological exploration of these effects was a learning experience.

Prisoners of History by Keith Lowe takes a look at 25 World War 2 monuments around the world and their place in our collective memory. With people around the world taking notice of the more problematic memorials (e.g. Confederate statues in the U.S.), this book is rather timely.

The author gives very detailed histories of the events that took place that are being memorialized. I learned a great deal of things I didnt know. He explains these events in a way that is easy to read and isn't too complicated.

However, when it comes to his argument that we are "prisoners of our history," I have some issues. At times it seemed as though he was contradicting himself and that he isn't in tune with many of the cultures of the countries where the monuments are located.

For example, the author discusses the Marine Corps monument in Virginia. While the sculpture depicts an iconic photograph from World War 2, the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima, the memorial itself is dedicated to ALL Marine Corps members throughout history. In his critique of this memorial, the author didn't seem to grasp this and made generalizations about Americans and our patriotism that are simply untrue for all Americans.

Overall, I would recommend this book based on the historical information alone. It is fascinating and doesn't get bogged down at all. As far as his argument goes, that's up to each individual reader to decide.

My appreciation to St. Martin's Press, author Keith Lowe, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lowe visited 25 monuments of the Second World War that he talks about in this book. He shares many historical tidbits not much talked about in popular histories and professes his interpretation of their meanings.

I would not recommend this book for classrooms or friends or family to read because of Lowe's analysis of the monuments without much noted support and some egregious errors in cultural analysis. Which is all the more disappointing because the WWII history is good. The book fails because the majority of entries lack reflection on why the monuments go up (and down) when they do. How can Lowe expect to accurately say what a monument means if he doesnt analyze why it was erected in that way and at that time?? He also talks about how monuments mythologize the past, but not as much about how that is made and used, what purpose it serves, and what it means when a culture changes its myths.

Lowe knows his WWII history, and his explanations of the historical events that the monuments commemorate is readable and very good. He covers a lot of ground, including both theaters of war, and geographic diversity within those theaters. So Europe doesnt only cover France or England, but also Slovenia and Lithuania. And Asia doesnt only cover China or Japan, but also the Philippines and South Korea.

BUT

His analysis of what the monuments mean come across as mere assertion and not much else. Some of this works, but much of it doesnt.

The political framing and incendiary language is a problem. He calls the removal of monuments and statues iconoclasm (a term very tied to the idea of religious beliefs and representations) and compares them to the destruction of a World Heritage site. I get trying to make a book topical, but there is much left to be desired in this approach to doing so. The meat of the book doesnt even talk about this, so it feels largely (and unnecessarily) tacked on.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Keith Lowe, and NetGalley for the book in exchange for this honest review

My thoughts
rating: 5
Would I recommend it? Yes
Would I read more my this author ? maybe
First off I want to say thank you to the publishers St. Martin's Press for the invite to read and review this as well as Netgalley, as soon as I saw what this book was I know I want to read it because of 2 things one it was history and 2 because of the topic which was WW 2, and I love to read both. And this was actual hard to read because it brings to life that in some place's we're actually doing this destroying the monuments that have stood for such a long time that their part of out history and past which makes it hard because its liking telling our family and friends that in the different wars as well as WW 2 that what they fought for and died for doesn't count anymore that they give their lives for nothing, and that that piece of history as well as them doesn't deserve to be remember. The way the author writes the stories of the each of the different monuments as well as as the history behind it goes to show just how much we need them to help us remember the past but also shows that we need to learn from our mistake, and while its an disturbing, thought provoking and fascinating book which also plays on our emotions it also a book I would highly recommend to read or just to a try to .

Lowe presents an interesting angle of history: analyzing various monuments and statutes, mostly WWII era, and Contemplating their meaning and value to modern society. In an era of statues being mauled and destroyed because they offend some people, his book is timely. I don't agree with some of his assertions or his pontificating about Americans' need for heroes and flag glorification,, but I found some of sites he included intriguing. The most interesting was Mussolimi's tomb. In my twenty five years of teaching history I have not once given any thought to what happened to his body. I read that chapter with the most interest. I don't see statues and monuments as prisoners of history, as he refers to them, , just the opposite, they are reminders of history, both the good and the bad.

Author Keith Lowe (http://www.keithlowehistory.com) published the book “Prisoners of History: What Monuments to World War II Tell Us About Our History and Ourselves” in 2020 (Dec). This is Mr. Lowe’s fifth publication.

I categorize this book as ‘G’. The book looks at various memorials erected around the world related to WWII. Some have now been taken down, while others survive. New ones have even been established in recent years.

I found the 5.5+ hours I spent reading this 368-page history very interesting. This is an unusual book. It doesn’t tell the story of a battle. It looks at how people remembered the war and how they still feel about it. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this book a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).