Abandoned Places of World War I

This is an incredible book! High-res photographs from around the world bring unique insight into WWI; it was truly fascinating, seeing how remnants of the war live on to this day and have been reconstructed/maintained or left to the natural elements. Comparing how each country fought, defended itself, and worked to heal its soldiers proved insightful, poignant, and somber.

I read this at about the same time as Kate Breslin's _As Dawn Breaks_, also set during WWI; that lent gravitas and quite the mental picture for her novel. It also reminded me of many a childhood day trip up to Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, one of three strategic fortifications at Puget Sound's entrance that saw most of its activity during WWI and WWII. Of course, as a child, grasping the magnitude of events that happened at that time is naturally a challenge! So revisiting in this book revived the magnitude of history and set my own memories in the context of world events.

The emphasis within the book is more on the pictures, with captions providing "history in a nutshell." For me, that was perfect and just enough information to whet the appetite, should I want to pursue other reads for more detail.

I think my favorite pictures were of Chapelle des Chasseurs Alpins (in Confrecourt, Aisne); I love to visit (and photograph) chapels and churches when I travel, and these photos stirred all the feels--especially since travel isn't quite the same right now (as I write this mid-pandemic). A picture of a German gun in Belleau Wood, Aisne, was also particularly powerful: set smack dab in the middle of a forest, with more leaves on the ground than on the trees, it literally paints a jarring image of war's devastation. And finally, the ossuary at Haute Chevauchee (Argonne, Meuse) was perhaps the ultimate tomb of unknown solders. Again ... sobering and moving.

5/5 stars.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.