A few weeks ago I ordered the book ‘Defending Britain – Twentieth Century Military Structures in the Landscape’ by Mike Osborne for £13 from Amazon at [ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Defending-Britain-Twentieth-century-Structures-Landscape/dp/075243134X[/ame]. I’ve had a good browse through, and have just begun to start reading it through thoroughly. It has 287 pages and is just under A4 size, and is full of pictures (though black and white) and text. It details a chronological history, detailing locations, dates, and defenses, of each type of defense per chapter, ranging from late 19th Century, to First and Second World Wars, to the Cold War. It also features a ‘gazette’, detailing the locations of good examples of various types of structure you can visit, and a pillbox recognition and feature guide at the back complete with details and diagrams.
I’d give this book a four star due to plenty of pictures, info, and the extra gazette and identification guide. My only concerns would be lacking colour pictures, a map for the gazette, and a more bite-size text layout.
This really is a great book which covers not just pillboxes, but other defences such as batteries and airfields e.t.c. and tells the story of the defences Britain took up through time.
For a few pics of the inside pictures check them out here:
http://beyondthepoint.co.uk/2012/01/31/book-review-defending-britain-by-mike-osborne/
I’d give this book a four star due to plenty of pictures, info, and the extra gazette and identification guide. My only concerns would be lacking colour pictures, a map for the gazette, and a more bite-size text layout.
This really is a great book which covers not just pillboxes, but other defences such as batteries and airfields e.t.c. and tells the story of the defences Britain took up through time.
For a few pics of the inside pictures check them out here:
http://beyondthepoint.co.uk/2012/01/31/book-review-defending-britain-by-mike-osborne/
