The Wipers Times
Decades ahead of the amusing but distorting buffoonery of Blackadder Goes Forth , this complete edition of the Wipers Times, the famed trench newspaper of the First World War, is an extraordinary mix of black humour, fake entertainment programmes and pastiche articles and constitutes a unique record of life in the wartime front line. From its long-running cartoon pun ( Are We Being Offensive Enough? ) to its brilliantly subversive column Things We Want to Know (The name of the officer who originated the idea), its hilarious spoof ads to its pastiche fake contributors (Belary Helloc), this complete facsimile edition of the Wipers Times, produced to accompany the BBC dramatization, is a historical masterpiece that enables us to sample the real spirit of the trenches . . . from the safety of our armchairs.About the AuthorChris Westhorp is an experienced freelance editor, writer and researcher. Formerly of Arms and Armour Press and Duncan Baird Publishing, he is a specialist interest in military history and aviation. Chris is the author of The Commando Pocket Manual 1950-1945 (Conway, 2012) amongst numerous other titles.Date Published 10th September 2013