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Pilgrimages to the Western Front of World War I

Historical Exemplars & Contemporary Practices

by Heather A. Warfield (Volume editor) Stephane Michonneau (Volume editor) Franck Viltart (Volume editor)
©2025 Edited Collection 264 Pages
Series: Pilgrimage Studies, Volume 4

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Summary

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.

Details

Pages
264
Publication Year
2025
ISBN (Hardcover)
9781803745107
Language
English
Keywords
Pilgrimage pilgrim battlefields First World War World War I war and memory war commemoration France battlescape funerary practices military military cemeteries military monuments Second World War World War II
Published
Oxford, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, New York, Wien, 2025.
Product Safety
Peter Lang Group AG

Biographical notes

Heather A. Warfield (Volume editor) Stephane Michonneau (Volume editor) Franck Viltart (Volume editor)

Heather Warfield is Professor of Counseling, Psychology and Therapy at Antioch University. She received her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in 2013 and, prior to moving to New Hampshire, taught at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia. Dr. Warfield’s research explores the psychological and therapeutic dimensions of pilgrimage journeys. Stéphane Michonneau is Professor of Contemporary History at Université Paris-Est Créteil. Franck Viltart is an expert on the heritage of World War I, sites of memory, and remembrance practices. He has contributed to UNESCO's World Heritage List, and is the author of several guides to the battlefields of the First World War.

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Title: Pilgrimages to the Western Front of World War I