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Lest We Forget

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What to expect

A moving account of how war is remembered – and by whom

'Impressive. A hundred individual histories, skillfully assembled, built into a poignant meditation on why they still matter' David Olusoga

'Brilliant' Piers Morgan

Shortlisted for the Military History Matters Book of the Year Award 2026

Bestselling historian Tessa Dunlop travels the length and breadth of the United Kingdom on a quest to uncover a story of national warring and national mourning, of fighting each other and of fighting together. Along the way, she summons a stellar cast of veterans, military experts and families of the fallen to reveal what our monuments and war heroes say about us, both then and now.

Why did Scotland take nearly 600 years to commemorate its most famous freedom fighter? When did Wellington become anti-Establishment? Who are the Glorious Dead? Can the Cenotaph stay above politics? And how do you commemorate contested, asymmetrical wars?

Through powerful veteran testimony from individuals such as Falklands hero Simon Weston and HRH The Duke of Kent, Tessa brings to life the pride and the pain of commemoration across these isles.

Lest We Forget, freedom is not free.

'In this wonderfully incisive, moving and timely book about commemoration, Dunlop breathes life into 100 British monuments – some famous, others less so – that together reveal our island story. A stunning achievement.' Saul David

Critics Review

'A timely and revealing book. A truly enlightening look at the wonderful stories of some of our most iconic and recognisable monuments' John Nichol
'Wonderfully incisive, moving and timely. Dunlop breathes life into 100 British monuments – some famous, others less so – that together reveal our island story. A stunning achievement' Saul David
'Travel, memory and landscape are beguilingly blended in Dunlop’s fabulously readable book. Statues here aren’t lumps of metal or stone, but poignant and human stories' Lucy Worsley
'A triumph: sharp, stylish, witty, very engagingly written. Full of touching interviews with ordinary people, the book is written with a light touch but is profound and at times very moving. A pleasure to read' Michael Wood
‘A remarkable, thought-provoking journey. With her trademark insight and flair, Dunlop unearths the stories behind our monuments, challenging us to rethink how we remember war and peace. A must-read’ Iain Dale
'Dunlop uses monuments as prisms through which she splits the history of memorialisation into the dazzling spectrum of the British way of war, the stories of those impacted by it, and our complex relationships with all three … a beautifully rendered and detailed piece of work' Lindsey Fitzharris
'Tessa writes intimately, authoritatively and animatedly. The statues featured are from all classes, races and faiths. This, lively, readable book does that with style and aplomb' Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
‘A fascinating insight into Britain’s troubled and bloody past, brought to life by Tessa Dunlop’s erudite prose' Iolo Williams
'Unique and often moving stories of war, loss and bravery … compelling and readable' Countryside
'A really beautiful book … full of touching stories' Alexis Conran, Times Radio
'Fascinating and affecting in its detail and its scope, Lest We Forget shows the meanings of war, and how remembering war is built into the fabric of Britain’ Helen Parr
‘Enthralling’ Military History Matters
Author Tessa Dunlop
Narrator Tessa Dunlop
Duration 11 hours and 24 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9780008713164
Format x-book®
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Genre Architecture: public, commercial and industrial buildings, Colonialism and imperialism, Military history: post-WW2 conflicts, Sculpture, Second World War, Social and cultural history, True stories of heroism, endurance and survival
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

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