Publisher's Synopsis
In the 1970s, Michael Palin came across an old family photograph of a young man in military uniform. Learning that this was his grandfather's brother Harry, killed in the First World War, his curiosity was piqued. But his career was hitting new heights, and his relative slipped to the back of his mind. Many years later, working on a documentary, he came across Harry's name on a Somme memorial, and was determined to investigate further. Michael dug out every bit of family gossip and correspondence he could, tracked down what remained of his great-uncle's diaries and letters, and pored over photographs of First World War battle scenes. He walked the route Harry took on that fatal, final day of his life, amid the mud of northern France. And as he did so, a life that had previously existed in the shadows was revealed to him.
