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Dunkirk: The History Behind the Major Motion Picture

The History Behind the Major Motion Picture

“I don’t see it as a war film. I see it as a survival story.” – Christopher Nolan

In 1940, at the French port of Dunkirk, more than 300,000 trapped Allied troops were dramatically rescued from the clutches of the enemy. In the years since this remarkable evacuation, the event has come to inform the British people’s sense of themselves.

Now, the story Winston Churchill described as a ‘miracle’ is narrated by bestselling author Joshua Levine in its full, sweeping context, including new interviews with veterans and survivors. Told from the viewpoints of land, sea and air, Joshua Levine’s Dunkirk is a dramatic account of a defeat that paved the way to ultimate victory and preserved liberty for generations to come.

Now a major motion picture written and directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance.

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Publisher: Collins

Formats available: Paperback

First published: June 29, 2017

Reviews for Dunkirk: The History Behind the Major Motion Picture

‘Not merely the essential companion to the film but probably the finest work we’ve seen on the evacuation full stop.’

Waterstones Weekly

‘Now comes one of the best film companion books that you are ever likely to read – Dunkirk by Joshua Levine. Just like the feature film, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance , this is a book that is a whole new league of its own and is only enhanced if you have watched the film as well. Joshua Levine has delivered an absolutely sensational look at the events of Dunkirk, a war event that is now getting the recognition around the world that it has always deserved.’

Heavy Magazine

‘This book, published to coincide with the blockbuster movie Dunkirk, directed by Christopher Nolan, enhances the film’s brilliant but spare account by providing historical details and maps that help in understanding the fascinating bigger picture.’

The National Book Review

‘Will suit anyone interested in military history from the soldier’s point of view. … The real stories of the men who were there bring the history to life on the page.’

The Federalist

‘Fascinating. … Fills in a lot of the historical context that Nolan so purposefully avoids in his film.’

Under the Radar

‘A story of survival. … Deserves favourable mention due to its detail, flowing narrative and ground-level storytelling.’

Warfare History