About Miss Russell’s War
Yes, Mary Russell’s War is officially a Thing.
Every week from now until, well, until I run dry, we will read an excerpt from Miss Russell’s childhood diary, gathered together under the title of “Mary Russell’s War”. This week, the Germans are battering at the gates of Liege, a part of the Schlieffen Plan (which Mary’s father explains to her) to push rapidly west across Europe, taking Paris and securing the western flank before their enemy to the east, Russia, could mobilize their forces. Only Belgium stood in the way.
Belgian lancers sounding the call to arms in the streets of Liege, from the excellent Great War Photo Archive: www.gwpda.org/photos
Any researcher can tell you how much life is to be found in contemporary records. For example, did you know that Coastal California literally heard the guns of that war? (see next week’s post!)
The Great War was a century ago, but it is also today, in every corner of Britain and the Continent. Each week into the foreseeable future, Mutterings will follow the War through the eyes of one young, far-away, and extraordinary girl.
Mary Russell’s War, here on Mutterings every Monday.
Fascinating, timely, prescient – thank you!
Excellent! Thanks.
A timely discovery for me! I’m listening to the a audiobook, Fall of Giants. This discovered journal dovetails nicely. Thank you.
Excellent Laurie – well done … but I trust you have not made a rod for your own back. Still, come 2018, there’s a cracking new book for you. I look forward to further instalments, particularly should Miss Russell have cause to make observations three years hence on early aerial warfare – The Red Baron (but no Snoopy!), Biggles et al. [But I would say that, wouldn’t I?]
TBFO aka Mike