If Australia truly became a nation when it sent its men to the battles of World War I, then these are our foundation documents. In the Trenches is a collection of gripping, awe-inspiring and sometimes terrifying accounts of life in wartime, witnessed firsthand by Australian and New Zealander men and women.

Taken from diaries, memoirs and letters, as well as poetry, reportage and prose, this writing collectively defines the ANZAC legend, reminding us that it is rooted in real and tragic circumstances on a heartbreakingly human scale. Author and journalist Mark Dapin has carefully chosen writing from those on the frontlines as well as behind the scenes, from officers and soldiers to nurses, engineers and reporters, to create a volume that will be regarded as the definitive record of the personal experiences that fed our emerging national identity.