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Great-Uncle Harry
- A Tale of War and Empire
- Narrated by: Michael Palin
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
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Great-Uncle Harry
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
Some years ago a stash of family records was handed down to Michael Palin, among which were photos of an enigmatic young man in army uniform, as well as photos of the same young man as a teenager looking uncomfortable at family gatherings. This, Michael learnt, was his Great-Uncle Harry, born in 1884, died in 1916. He had previously had no idea that he had a Great-Uncle Harry, much less that his life was cut short at the age of 32 when he was killed in the Battle of the Somme. The discovery both shocked him and made him want to know much 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.
What listeners say about Great-Uncle Harry
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jennifer Hogan
- 27-10-23
Very interesting and thought provoking.
A very interesting and informative narrative of Michael Palins relative. So well told that I found the later chapters very affecting. Well done to Michael Palin for doing such justice to his Great Uncle Harry.
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- Amazon Customer
- 28-02-24
Fascinating story narrated wonderfully
A great insight to a different time and a moving account of the futility of war
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- Danny Hughes
- 03-12-23
Fabulous story
I'm sure we will all have these interesting family members, yet to be able to write about it so eloquently and with such passion is a gift!
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- Stephanie Day
- 12-03-24
Moving, well written and read
I love Michael. Grew up watching his travel programs, so was interested in this as it’s read by him, and I also love historical subject matters.
What a lovely book of dedication to a man that history had almost forgot. Palin is obviously moved by his story and it comes across in his reading. I too now have a love for a man who died more than a century ago, in the most appalling of circumstances. The use of Harry’s words from his diaries makes it all the more poignant, but the research into filling gaps as well as Michael’s own thoughts and feelings make this an emotive story.
Definitely worth listening to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- R
- 09-01-24
The wonderful story of an ordinary man
The pace and engaging quality of this well told story were marvellous. Uncle Harry is not lionised or made a hero but his life is lived and you live it with him.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Maureen Best
- 22-10-23
Thought provoking
A lot of the story is based on supposition but it gave an insight into the horror of WW1
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- Gemma
- 14-11-23
One man’s story
Fantastic journey of one man through the Great War. Really enjoyed this book, was willing Harry to make it through the war
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- Anthony House
- 11-02-24
An unexpected journey
Despite knowing the end I was not privy to the trials and challenges that beset not only the Protagonist but also the Author.
From different nations and continents to be always remembered back 'home' was delightful.
Harry was a mild mannered charming fellow which makes you secretly hanker that, somehow, he will come through 'it.'
He had so much more to do and to give. A poignant reminder for all those lost during that catastrophe of war.
Thank you Michael for sharing with us your Great Uncle Harry.
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- Anonymous User
- 15-02-24
The beautiful way that Great Uncle Harry was brought to life.
A wonderful sad but enjoyable book. I felt like I really knew great uncle Harry at the end
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- Fiona
- 22-03-24
absolutely riveting, the detail of research, combined
absolutely riveting. the fact that Private Pallin was such an 'ordinary' soldier meant that all the attention was on the minutae of what it was like to be there. The depth of the research was amazing. I really appreciated what Michael Pallin said in the acknowledgements about having to make a decision at some fairly arbitrary point to write the book, rather than continue dredging for new material. My grandfather went into the first world War in 1914. He had been a reservist, so was part of the BEF. He never attained any rank although both his sons were exceptionally clever men, which suggests that his attitudes may well have been similar to Harry's. i don't think my grandfathe was stupid. He was demobbed at at the end of the war with only the service medals and a Mons rose to show for it. I can't think it was an accident that he called his first born, in 1919, Victor.
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