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Great-Uncle Harry

A Tale of War and Empire
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( 2,613 ratings, 275 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Michael Palin's Great-Uncle Harry delves into the adventurous life of his uncle, Harry, against the backdrop of World War I and colonial India. As Palin traces Harry's footsteps, he uncovers family secrets, tales of heroism, and the dramatic events that shaped his great-uncle's life, providing a touching exploration of history and personal discovery.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4000
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by historical journeys and familial connections, as the author uncovers his great-uncle's adventures in the early 20th century. It's a captivating mix of personal history and gripping tales of travel and discovery, full of the charm and wit characteristic of the author.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Michael Palin recreates the extraordinary life and tragic death of a First World War soldier - his great-uncle Harry.

From the time, many years ago, when Michael Palin first heard that his grandfather had a brother, Harry, who died in tragic circumstances, he was determined to find out more about him.

The quest that followed involved hundreds of hours of painstaking detective work. Michael dug out every bit of family gossip and correspondence he could. He studied every relevant official document. He tracked down what remained of his great-uncle Harry's diaries and letters, and pored over photographs of First World War battle scenes to see whether Harry appeared in any of them. He walked the route Harry took on that fatal, final day of his life amid the mud of northern France. And as he did so, a life that had previously existed in the shadows was revealed to him.

Great-Uncle Harry is an utterly compelling account of an ordinary man who led an extraordinary life. A blend of biography, history, travelogue and personal memoir, this is Michael Palin at his very finest.


Praise for Erebus:

'Beyond terrific. I didn't want it to end.' - BILL BRYSON

'Magisterial . . . Palin brings energy, wit and humanity to a story that has never ceased to tantalise people.' - THE TIMES

'Everybody's talking about it . . . A brilliant book.' - CHRIS EVANS

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529152623

Publisher: Cornerstone

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Hutchinson Heinemann

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 230.0mm

Weight: 450g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Michael Palin has written and starred in numerous TV programmes and films, from Monty Python and Ripping Yarns to The Missionary and The Death of Stalin. He has also made several much-acclaimed travel documentaries. His books include accounts of his journeys, novels (Hemingway's Chair and The Truth) and several volumes of diaries. He received a BAFTA fellowship in 2013, and a knighthood in the 2019 New Year Honours list.

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