The Searchers

Selected as a Book of the Year by the Spectator and the Daily Telegraph

'Fascinating ... carefully researched and beautifully written' DAVID DIMBLEBY

'Utterly riveting' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

'Robert Sackville-West writes tenderly about death and remembrance' GERARD DEGROOT, THE TIMES

By the end of the First World War, over half a million British soldiers were listed as missing, presumed dead, their bodies lost in the devastated landscapes of northern France and Flanders. The Searchers by Robert Sackville-West delves into the heart-wrenching yet inspiring stories of those who embarked on the arduous quest to uncover the fate of these missing men. This book takes readers through the painstaking efforts of individuals and organisations committed to bringing closure to countless grief-stricken families.

Among the poignant tales, we find Rudyard Kipling’s relentless pursuit to locate his son's grave, detailing his emotional journey and the profound impact it had on his life and work. Another narrative follows E.M. Forster’s empathetic dialogues with traumatised soldiers in an Alexandria hospital, shedding light on the psychological scars left by the war. The book also touches on the spiritual attempts to communicate with the deceased, underscoring the desperate measures taken by those seeking solace.

Furthermore, Sackville-West covers the establishment of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, a powerful symbol of collective memory and respect for the fallen, whose identities remain unknown. The text details the extensive and solemn task of exhuming and reinterring hundreds of thousands of bodies in official military cemeteries, a herculean effort to ensure that these soldiers were given the dignified resting places they deserved.

The narrative extends into the modern era, illustrating how contemporary techniques, such as DNA profiling, continue to advance the mission of identifying and honouring these long-lost soldiers. The Searchers holds a mirror to the extensive emotional, physical, and financial toll this quest for answers exacts from the families and friends of the missing, showing how their lives were forever intertwined with the search for their loved ones.

This meticulously researched and elegantly written book serves as a testament to the enduring human spirit and compassion in the face of immense loss. It captures the essence of bravery and resilience, bringing the untold stories of personal battles fought on the home front to the forefront of our collective memory.

'Remarkable' JOHN CAREY, SUNDAY TIMES

'This is an outstanding book' LITERARY REVIEW

'Deeply moving' DAILY MAIL