Throughout history, soldiers have known that they run the daily risk of being killed in action for their country. When you are stationed on the front line, it is an ever-present danger. Hence, for more than three centuries, soldiers have been writing farewell letters to be read in the event of their death – a last link with that person, and a voice from beyond the grave. If You¹re Reading This brings together a collection of these letters through history. Starting with the Napoleonic Wars and concluding with Iraq and Afghanistan, the book not only reveals farewell letters from soldiers of all ranks and nationalities, but tells a potted history of each individual soldier and his or her story. Where possible, the book will also explore the reaction and impact of those letters on the family who received them.
