"A particularly vivid and personal narrative."

The men; the Western front; the Somme and the Germans; the plan; the preparations; the last few hours; zero hour; review at 8.30am; the morning; review at noon; the afternoon; review at dusk; the night; the aftermath; the cost; an analysis; the years that followed; appendix 1 - order of battle of British infantry units; appendix 2 - order of battle of German divisions facing the British attack; appendix 3 - senior officer casualties; appendix 4 - Victoria Cross winners of 1 July 1916; appendix 5 - battalions suffering more than 500 casualties; appendix 6 - a tour of the Somme battlefield.