Abandoned Places of World War I is a photo book of places and items left behind from the Great War. It contains over 150 photographs. With the first 100 pages focused on Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. A lot of the photos are of abandoned bunkers and fortifications. I've visited some on the coast near Calais. There are also the outlines in the ground where trenches once were and others where they've been rebuilt for history. I expected the countries I've already mentioned but the second half of the book covers Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and even a few places in North America. I hadn't thought about those countries as much in relation to WWI. Each photo gives a little blurb and at times I wished for more information. Is this a sight people can visit? What happened here? The book doesn't give historical context to the war or elaborate much beyond very basics. This really is for WWI history buffs. It isn't a something I'd purchase for myself but I would check it out from a library. Thank you NetGalley and Amber Books for a temporary ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)

World War I seems to have been eclipsed by the events of the Second World War, and mentions of the latter are everywhere. Faulkner’s eerily beautiful photographs of the places so many fought and died is a reminder of the cost of war both in human terms and the natural world, which was literally decimated by “the War to end all Wars”.

I can see this wonderfully-presented volume being a fine gift for a specialist in WW1 matters, or as a souvenir for someone going to or returning from the famous sites, but I can't pretend it was perfect for me. It's a book that points out the many diverse remains of the war, so in Belgium and France alone we go from shots of rusting UXBs and the emplacements they got fired from, to pre-existing buildings changed by warfare and even some casual graffiti. It's clear that you have to think of the War partly in the context of how evident it still is over a century on. But while that flavour came across, for once the brevity of the captions – virtually all the text on offer – was lacking. For instance, I wanted more of the story of the 'Lochnagar' crater, and not just the data we got. Some of the pictures seemed incredibly poorly chosen – one wanting to flag up a 'dispersed fortress' is an extreme close-up of a howitzer muzzle, or something.

But quibbles aside, this respectful memorial to the many millions of lives lost and injuries caused does go to places you perhaps may not have gone in your reading. I can see many people inspired by this to look into the War as played out in the Italian Alps and Dolomites, for example. And some of the picture research is suitably eye-opening – an open-air swimming pool for the German troops, and a shipwreck now home to a mini-jungle in an Australian bay, were most unexpected.

There is scope for improvement here, but there is also the idea that this inspires further book purchase and study. It's probably as good as anything else from this publisher's range of picture books concerning military history, but it didn't work as well with me as some have. Three and a half stars.

This book provides a look at the remnants of the first World War using photography. Through its high resolution full page pictures and descriptions this book tries to connect the reader with both the history of the war and the aftermath we are left with. As most of those who managed to survive the war have grown old and passed on these abandon places are the only reminders we have left that the war really existed. Yes, we have historians and teachers to pass along the stories of the war, but it is oftentimes the physical evidence that closes the gap from a cold detachment and a startling realization of existence.