Book Launch in the House of Lords

Jonathan attended Lord Astor’s splendid book launch party in the House of Lords. Esmond: the Lost Idol is the moving story of the short life of Esmond Elliot, Scots Guards, who was killed just before Passchendaele in 1917. The book, which draws on Elliot’s numerous letters and diaries is a joint collaboration between politician Johnnie Astor and researcher and writer Alexandra Campbell. Profusely illustrated and handsomely produced, the correspondence shines new light on many aspects of the Western Front, not least Elliot’s views and opinions of his fellow officers and commanders, many of whom will be familiar to readers and students of the Great War. The authors have done an excellent job in crafting the material into a readable and fast-flowing narrative.