Le Soldat Inconnu

by Linda Granfield

See below for English description. Un livre à la mémoire des hommes et des femmes de toutes les forces armées du monde qui reposent, inconnus, dans des tombes marquées ou non, sur la terre ou sous la mer. L'auteure Linda Grandfield a consulté des archives sur les soldats inconnus de plusieurs pays du monde pour écrire ce livre fort informatif et touchant. Elle montre des photos de soldats dans différents conflits armés avant d'expliquer l'origine des monuments commémoratifs du Soldat inconnu de différents pays, dont celui du Canada, des états-Unis, de la France, de l'Angleterre et de plusieurs autres pays. L'auteure explique aussi comment la technologie et l'identification génétique font en sorte qu'il y a aujourd'hui beaucoup moins d'« inconnus ». Nous continuons toutefois à honorer la mémoire des quelques soldats que nous connaissions peut-être... et celle des millions d'autres que nous n'avons jamais pu connaître. In the aftermath of the First World War, countries mourned their fallen sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers. In 1920, in both France and England, memorials were erected to those lost heroes who had remained anonymous. Around the world other countries followed suit, each country creating it's own version of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.Now, award-winning author Linda Granfield presents her own tribute to these fallen soldiers. Taking readers on a journey to the Tombs in more than a dozen countries, Ms. Granfield shares over 100 photos and images that ultimately reveal a timeless this November and every November we must remember those who served - both known and unknown. Original The Unknown Soldier

Genres: Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. It details the efforts nations have gone to to create a memorial for the unknown. Amazing pictures, gentle storytelling. Highly recommended. Purchased in Kansas City, Mo at National World War I Museum and Memorial.

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

Award-winning author Linda Granfield explores a little-known aspect of war in this attractive, thought-provoking look at soldiers who perished as “unknowns” during twentieth century conflicts. During World War I, many of the dead were buried quickly where they fell, with temporary wooden markers on their graves. After the war, their remains were buried with more care, but because their identity often could not be confirmed, they were buried with a marker that said, “A Soldier of the Great War – Known to God.” The same situation occurred during World War II and the Korean War. In 1920, France was the first country to honour its unidentified war dead by selecting one unknown soldier and burying him in a vault under the Arc de Triomphe. England soon followed with the burial of an unknown in Westminster Abbey. Canada selected an unknown soldier for repatriation in 2000; he was buried at the base of the National War Memorial in Ottawa. Granfield explores similar memorials in more than 14 countries around the world. She also discusses common symbols and other forms of remembrance attached to these memorials, and includes a timeline, glossary and index.

Granfield’s passion for her subject shines through in her powerful and moving text. She conveys the great significance attached to these memorials to the “unknowns.” As in her other war related books, her research is thorough and her prose is thoughtful and heartfelt. The book is full of historical and contemporary photographs and is attractively designed, with a single or double-page spread on each country. This is a worthy addition to Granfield’s collection of war-themed titles.

Reviewed by Mary Anne Cree in Canadian Children's Book News
Fall 2008 VOL.31 NO.4

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Granfield does an amazing job of highlighting the tradition of the unknown soldier, both the history and tradition of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice but whose names were lost. One of the greatest features of the books is that Granfield looks at the memorials to unknown soldiers from around the world:

Canada
France
England
The United States
Italy
Belgium
Poland
Germany
Greece
Japan
Russia
Iraq
Australia
New Zealand

She has amazing photos and side stories to highlight the different memorials. Interspersed with the stories of specific memorials are stories, tales and traditions of honoring fallen soldiers, a short history of symbols seen on graves and tombstones, and the reminder that we should never forget.

It is an amazing book for young and young at heart to remind them of those who have gone before us.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a war-time situation, it is not always possible to collect every body and send the dead home to be properly buried. This was especially true in World War I and II. During these two wars, thousands of soldiers were buried quickly: in shallow graves marked with wooden crosses and in mass gravesites. Some bodies were simply not found.

After the war was complete, effort was made to bury these people properly. Unfortunately, identification was not always easy. Many men were simply buried as unknown soldiers.

Today, nearly every country that participated in those wars has a memorial to the unknown soldier. The Unknown Soldier tells their story and reminds children about the sacrifices these brave men made for their country.

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible narrative, detailed annotations and a thought-provoking collection of photographs, postcards, pins and poems shed light on the ceremony, symbolism, chronology and controversy commemorating our global family's losses to war.

You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't know that there were tombs for the unknown soldier in so many countries - as usual Granfield provides us with a powerful story that is beautifully told, factually fascinating and illustrated by period postcards, photos and assorted memorabilia

[Loren]

powerful book! Older children. Shows different countries respect for their unkown soilders commonality for this feeling.