An early birthday present to myself (because I'm worth it), "Les Petits Soldats de la Grande Guerre" has been out for while but I've only just come across it, the cover announces that it includes 800 toys of WW1 so I had to have it.
Published in 2013 by Editions Glenat, A4 format, it has 256 pages illustrated in full colour throughout, ISBN 978-2-7234-0700-2. Written in French only but light on text so not too challenging for anyone with with a smattering of the language and a grounding in the Great War. The pic below gives an example of the layout and quality of the illustrations. The cover price is 39 Euro, which I would say offers very good value for a book of this size and quality, I got my copy on ebay France, new and still in the cellophane wrapping for 19 Euro plus 9 Euro P&P from seller "Book77". Bargain!
There are 12 chapters looking at different aspects of the war, into which the toys are conveniently slotted. The cover gives little away and I half expected the book to include every type of toy from diecast vehicles to dolls and teddy bears, but fear not, apart from a chapter containing tinplate tanks and ships the rest is all toy soldiers.
You can expect to see the perennial favourites from Britains, CGB Mignot, and Elastolin but they don't dominate, it's packed with figures of every genre: paper, flats and semi flats, conjoint tin, wood, hollowcast and solid lead, composition and even a little plastic and modern white metal (but not much). The more I flick through it the more I enjoy it, I reckon you will too.
