New book about Conscientious Objectors during World War l

Communities of Resistance - Conscience and Dissent in Britain during the First World War' by Cyril Pearce is an exploration of the histories of more than 40 war resister communities across Britain. They range from rural villages and industrial towns to the urban villages of greater London. It tells the stories of the men and women who became conscientious objectors (COs) and found ways to resist involvement in the war.

Valerie Flessati of Pax Christi says: "Cyril Pearce's research and database has been key to all the research that has been done in recent years on the WW1 conscientious objectors and this is an amazing book which will be coming out next month."

"An astonishing piece of scholarship… fascinating," says Bruce Kent. He adds that: "Cyril Pearce, whose Register of almost 20,000 First World War Conscientious Objectors has been crucial to so much local research, compares data from every corner of England, Wales and Scotland. His in-depth analysis investigates why some places were 'hot-spots' of anti-war activity and unpicks the wider circles of support - political, social, religious, familial - on which the COs relied. Among many fascinating details I learned was that some of the 'safe houses' had also given refuge to suffragettes on the run. All this is liberally illustrated by stories of the individual COs. Their courage is too often forgotten and the cartoons of the day reveal such open contempt! Yet, by 1924 there was a shift towards admiration. Otherwise, how could there have been a dinner for many COs and friends in the House of Commons itself? 'Communities of Resistance' is a definitive and welcome contribution to the history of the anti-war movement".

Cyril Pearce is the creator of the 'Pearce Register of British First World War Conscientious Objectors' and author of 'Comrades in Conscience - the story of an English community's opposition to the Great War.'

"A well-crafted, scholarly tribute to men and women war resisters, it details the hitherto unchronicled distribution of supportive local communities, identifying the places, social spaces and networks that sustained anti-war outlaws, prisoners and their families during the First World War" - Julian Putkowski, co-author of 'Shot at Dawn.'

"Cyril Pearce is the established go-to source for anything you want to know about the peace movement and conscientious objection in the First World War. 'Communities of Resistance' is destined to become the movement's encyclopaedia, its veritable bible, packed with erudition and inspirational story-telling…. a masterpiece" - David Boulton, author of 'Objection Overruled.'

Retail price £30. Limited edition hardback - 550 pages with over 70 illustrations.

To buy this book at a pre-publication discount price of £25 (offer ends 11 September) click on this link:

https://francisboutle.co.uk/products/communities-of-resistance/