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poppymonster's review against another edition
5.0
Another masterpiece by Tuchman with an in depth analysis of the many forces that moved Europe towards WW1.
However, I think more discussion of colonization of Africa would have been useful.
However, I think more discussion of colonization of Africa would have been useful.
jimmacsyr's review against another edition
Very enjoyable and informative read. Really several different articles that don't blend too much. Gives a very good overview of the European and American political environment prior to WW1.
Extensive discussion of the socialist/workers/anarchist movements that were active during the time period.
Extensive discussion of the socialist/workers/anarchist movements that were active during the time period.
bkeving_74's review against another edition
3.0
An in depth history of certain aspects of the world and culture
This book is by no means comprehensive in its survey of the world before the great war. In my opinion it spends a little too much time on certain aspects, such as operas. However, I did learn some things about culture and life in general prior to WW1.
This book is by no means comprehensive in its survey of the world before the great war. In my opinion it spends a little too much time on certain aspects, such as operas. However, I did learn some things about culture and life in general prior to WW1.
lizwisniewski's review against another edition
3.0
Wow! I certainly learned a lot about this time period. I just love this woman.
thehappybooker's review against another edition
3.0
Tuchman's story development is a bit too slow for my taste, but it's good stuff for airport/travel/waitingroom reading. I'll return to it again and again, and like her other books, it'll grow on me.
spenar's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
In The Proud Tower, Tuchman employs her considerable talent as a historian to describe an often-overlooked period of recent history and offers a portrait of Europe and America as it stood in the years leading up to the first world war. The author deftly incorporates a breadth of historical information and analysis into a narrative that manages to be compelling despite its scope.
sarahbringhurstfamilia's review against another edition
5.0
I've been thinking a lot about World War I during this centennial year, and I am fascinated by anything to do with the Long 19th Century, so when I was browsing for commute audiobooks on Overdrive and saw this, I knew I had to read it. It's an engagingly written history of the Western world before WWI that tries to paint that world as it was and seemed at the time to those who lived in it, and not as it looked (or looks) through the rosy glasses of war-wearied remembrance.
The book consists of several loosely interconnected essays on different themes, and with shifting geographical foci. I had no idea, for example, how widespread and organized (after its fashion) the international movement toward anarchism was. I can't decide whether I liked the chapter on British politics or the chapter on German culture more. They were both good, although the German chapter might win just for the brilliantly descriptive and insightful observation that "Strauss was a string plucked by the Zeitgeist." And yes, I spent time listening to Strauss and other music of the time in between chapters.
The chapter on American imperialism as defined by the Spanish-American war and the conquest of the Philippines was also illuminating for me. Tony and I spent a summer in the Philippines and used to often wonder why after 300 years of Spanish rule and only a few decades of American rule the Filipinos still looked on America with suspicion while seeming to have much softer feelings toward their erstwhile Spanish rulers. I no longer wonder. There's also a good chapter on the Dreyfuss affair and its long-reaching effects on French politics and culture.
I think the thing that surprised me the most was how familiar so many of the issues and controversies sounded. Although there was a certain optimism that might be difficult to find again any time soon. I was almost amused to find that Alfred Nobel had originally only intended for the prize bearing his name to be given out for the next thirty years, since he expected that world peace would have been worked out by then.
Also, if the Doctor turned up in the Tardis and offered to take me anywhere in time and space, I might just choose pre-WWI Europe.
The book consists of several loosely interconnected essays on different themes, and with shifting geographical foci. I had no idea, for example, how widespread and organized (after its fashion) the international movement toward anarchism was. I can't decide whether I liked the chapter on British politics or the chapter on German culture more. They were both good, although the German chapter might win just for the brilliantly descriptive and insightful observation that "Strauss was a string plucked by the Zeitgeist." And yes, I spent time listening to Strauss and other music of the time in between chapters.
The chapter on American imperialism as defined by the Spanish-American war and the conquest of the Philippines was also illuminating for me. Tony and I spent a summer in the Philippines and used to often wonder why after 300 years of Spanish rule and only a few decades of American rule the Filipinos still looked on America with suspicion while seeming to have much softer feelings toward their erstwhile Spanish rulers. I no longer wonder. There's also a good chapter on the Dreyfuss affair and its long-reaching effects on French politics and culture.
I think the thing that surprised me the most was how familiar so many of the issues and controversies sounded. Although there was a certain optimism that might be difficult to find again any time soon. I was almost amused to find that Alfred Nobel had originally only intended for the prize bearing his name to be given out for the next thirty years, since he expected that world peace would have been worked out by then.
Also, if the Doctor turned up in the Tardis and offered to take me anywhere in time and space, I might just choose pre-WWI Europe.
eososray's review
4.0
Very dense history, with lots of names, dates and places. Interesting but easy to get overwhelmed and wonder if you really needed to know this stuff.
I was really looking for a broader political picture to pre-WWI but this is more general knowledge of how the world was at the turn of the century.
Would have rated 3.5 star if possible. Not quite a 4 star book.
I was really looking for a broader political picture to pre-WWI but this is more general knowledge of how the world was at the turn of the century.
Would have rated 3.5 star if possible. Not quite a 4 star book.