Encyclopedia of Prisoners of War and Internment

by Jonathan F. Vance (Editor)

This invaluable A-to-Z reference work presents nearly 300 entries that survey the history of prisoners of war and interned civilians from the earliest times to the present, with emphasis on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It explores such themes as famous prisoners of war throughout history, medical conditions, atrocities, escapes, international law, exchanges of prisoners, organizations working on behalf of POWs, and trials associated with the treatment of captives.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Jonathan Vance holds the Canada Research Chair in Conflict and Culture in
the Department of History at The University of Western Ontario. His books
and articles include Death So Noble: Memory, Meaning, and the First World
War (1997), High Flight: Aviation and the Canadian Imagination (2002), A
Gallant Company: The True Story of "The Great Escape" (2003), and Building
Canada: People and Projects that Shaped the Nation (2006). He is currently
researching the experience of rural Canada during the First World War.

Reviews

[James Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very useful in studying the problems and experiences of prisoners of war, although I found the format a bit uneven. The encyclopedia defines some terms used in the Geneva Conventions but not all of them. On the other hand, it provides some excellent insight into WHY some of the articles in the Geneva Convention are there, as well as comparisons of the Geneva and Hague conventions. Most of the articles are very well done while a couple seem to be space fillers. As a reference, though, I found it excellent.