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The Path of Peace

Walking the Western Front Way

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The Path of Peace

By: Anthony Seldon
Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
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About this listen

Without a permanent home, a wife or a job, and with no clear sense of where his life was going, Anthony Seldon set out on a 35-day pilgrimage from the French-Swiss border to the English Channel.

The route of his 1,000-kilometer journey was inspired by a young British soldier of the First World War, Alexander Douglas Gillespie, who dreamed of creating a 'Via Sacra' that the men, women and children of Europe could walk to honor the fallen. Tragically, Gillespie was killed in action, his vision forgotten for a hundred years, until a chance discovery in the archive of one of England's oldest schools galvanised Anthony into seeing the Via Sacra permanently established.

Tracing the historic route of the Western Front, he traversed some of Europe's most beautiful and evocative scenery, from the Vosges, Argonne and Champagne to the haunting trenches of Arras, the Somme and Ypres. Along the way, he wrestled heat exhaustion, dog bites and blisters as well as a deeper search for inner peace and renewed purpose. Touching on grief, loss and the legacy of war, The Path of Peace is the extraordinary story of Anthony's epic walk, an unforgettable act of remembrance and a triumphant rediscovery of what matters most in life.

'A journey of self-discovery and a pilgrimage of peace... A remarkable book by a remarkable man.' Michael Morpurgo

'An incredible journey that will move and inspire.' Bear Grylls

'A timely, eloquent and convincing reminder that to forget the carnage of the past is to open the door to it happening again.' George Alagiah

©2022 Anthony Seldon (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd
Biographies & Memoirs Travel Writing & Commentary War France
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Critic reviews

'A journey of self-discovery and a pilgrimage of peace... A remarkable book by a remarkable man.' Michael Morpurgo

'An incredible journey that will move and inspire.' Bear Grylls

'A timely, eloquent and convincing reminder that to forget the carnage of the past is to open the door to it happening again.' George Alagiah

What listeners say about The Path of Peace

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The stories of those that fought in WW1

Great insight into the battles that were fought and the insights into soldiers lives and deaths.

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Good tales but an arduous walk

I put this book on my wish list when I saw it was to be published as I too have been drawn to contemplating the First World War over the years though for reasons I can only guess at. I wondered if walking the front might release new reflections and insights concerning the horror that occurred there. What I discovered is a book of two halves all intermixed. Firstly, there are the tales of the war itself, many of which I had been unaware of. I found myself quite moved by these and this was in part inspired by the excellent narration.

The second part of the book concerns the walk itself. This was not uneventful, and no doubt a great trial for the author; however, I felt that it added very little value to the subject matter. Did it inspire me to pick up my backpack and start walking? No, is the simple answer. There was very little emotional connection between the places being visited and the tales being told. This was a missed opportunity, I feel.

The author’s contemplation of the circumstances surrounding the war, its conduct and aftermath are discussed lucidly and it is an excellent introduction to the subject. But it is a traditional set of views and offers no new real openings for the promotion of peace that we have not heard before.

In my time I too have become one of those who can visit a war memorial and know the names of some of those listed who lost their lives close by to me. Afterwards I experienced a very steep learning curve that has not yet ended; hence, my desire to listen to this book. For me, expecting someone else, somewhere, to do something to bring peace about will unlikely prove fruitful. In my view, it is far better to become the peace that you wish to see in the world ……. and if you are needed to do more then it will become obvious.

In so saying, talking about peace is part of being the peace you wish to see in the world. This book makes an important and helpful contribution therefore. But not quite a bullseye.

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Pax

Incredible journey. So many lives lost. Will the world ever learn about peace. I pray so.

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Both accessible and somber

A accessible travelogue and timely reminder of the horrors of World War 1 written against the backdrop of a new war in Europe.

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