Pilgrimages to the Western Front of World War I, Historical Exemplars & Contemporary Practices

Présentation

The book introduces a multidisciplinary exploration of battlefield pilgrimages and situates these pilgrimages within the broader field of pilgrimage studies, examining their historical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions. The authors highlight how battlefield visits serve as transformative journeys for reflection, commemoration, and the construction of collective memory. Chapters reflect the structural conceptualization of pilgrimages as interactions of sites, actors, and practices, and cover diverse topics, from the symbolic evolution of sites like Verdun and Vimy to the intersection of mourning and national identity at cemeteries and monuments. The book emphasizes the continuity and adaptation of pilgrimage practices, their role in fostering connections with the past, and their influence on contemporary rituals and tourism. The volume contributes to our understanding of how humanity engages with sites of war, trauma, and reconciliation, shedding light on the global phenomenon of battlefield pilgrimages.
 

Auteurs

• Heather Warfield, professeure d'université.
• Stéphane Michonneau, professeur en histoire contemporaine et membre du laboratoire CRHEC.
• Franck Viltart, historien et chargé de mission au Conseil départemental de l’Aisne.

Références de l'ouvrage

Editions Peter Lang
N° ISBN : 9781803745114
Nombre de pages : 434
Parution en novembre 2025
Année : 2025