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Joan Beaumont
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Broken Nation: Australians in the Great War Hardcover – February 1, 2014

by Joan Beaumont (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 32 ratings
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The Great War is, for many Australians, the event that defined our nation. The larrikin diggers, trench warfare, and the landing at Gallipoli have become the stuff of the Anzac legend. But it was also a war fought by the families at home. Their resilience in the face of hardship, their stoic acceptance of enormous casualty lists, and their belief that their cause was just, made the war effort possible. Broken Nation is the first book to bring together all the dimensions of World War I. Combining deep scholarship with powerful storytelling, Joan Beaumont brings the war years to life: from the well-known battles at Gallipoli, Pozieres, Fromelles, and Villers-Bretonneux, to the lesser known battles in Europe and the Middle East; from the ferocious debates over conscription to the disillusioning Paris peace conference and the devastating "Spanish" flu the soldiers brought home. Witness the fear and courage of tens of thousands of soldiers, grapple with the strategic nightmares confronting the commanders, and come to understand the impact on Australians at home and at the front of death on an unprecedented scale. A century after the Great War, Broken Nation brings lucid insight into the dramatic events, mass grief, and political turmoil that makes the memory of this terrible war central to Australia's history.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    656 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Allen & Unwin
  4. Publication date
    February 1, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.63 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1741751381
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1741751383
  8. See all details
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About the Author

Joan Beaumont is an internationally recognized historian of Australia in the two World Wars, Australian defense and foreign policy, the history of prisoners of war, and the memory and heritage of war. has published several books about World Wars I and II.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Allen & Unwin (February 1, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 656 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1741751381
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1741751383
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.02 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.63 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

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Joan Beaumont

Joan Beaumont

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
32 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Innovator
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fair Analysis of a Complex Topic
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2013
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Beaumont's book is a balanced account of Australia's activities in World War I that covers relevant aspects of domestic politics as well as Australian participation at Gallipoli, on the Western Front and in the Middle East. It also analyses modern reactions to important battles and tries to account for the greater importance that is currently placed on some battles than on others that were perhaps more important from a military perspective at the time. As the title indicates, the author does not romanticise the impact of the war on Australian consciousness, but traces the divisive effects of more than four years of intense commitment on a nation that was already split on religious and class lines in 1914. It is well worth reading.
4 people found this helpful
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MickM
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2014
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This book is a well written insight to the era in Australia during the 1st world war. It was very appealing to me due to my interest in Australian Military History. It was particularly interesting to look behind the scenes and into the minds of the soldiers and the families and friends at home. The politics of the time are also well portrayed. A must read for casual observers and serious students of Australia's particpation in WW1
One person found this helpful
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Ian D. Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent summary of Australia in WWI
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014
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If you want a very readable account of Australia in WWI in one book this is it. It covers everything, the battles, the discipline issues, the conscription debates and the impact on Australian society. It doesn't necessarily do this in great depth but for me it has put many issues into context.
3 people found this helpful
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jack (john) noble
3.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable and illuminating
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2014
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hi,
i enjoyed the book immensley especially the heroics of the Australians , i did feel it could have been condensed which is why the tree stars.
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Barry Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh look at the Anzac story.
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2014
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A great juxtaposition of the events in Gallipoli, France and at home in Australia. The author entertains throughout the whole journey.
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FRD
5.0 out of 5 stars It will now be the standard single volume history of ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2016
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It will now be the standard single volume history of Australia and Australians in WW1
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Michael hartley
4.0 out of 5 stars incredibly researched book of a cataclysmic period of Australian and world history.
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2014
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Epic account of the sacrifice of so many.The failure to learn from this debacle sowed the seeds for World War 2.
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lissa w siever
5.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2016
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A well written and comprehensive book. A great introduction to Australia
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Top reviews from other countries

Colette Burnell
5.0 out of 5 stars Really seems to be the definitive book on Australia and ...
Reviewed in Australia on October 6, 2014
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Really seems to be the definitive book on Australia and Australians in WWI. The history and politics at home and abroad are comprehensively covered. Also the battles and battle strategies deployed by Australian forces and their results are explained so that the layman can understand.
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