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houlette's review against another edition
5.0
Exceptionally rich and beautifully written history of this period that really brings to life the feeling of the times and the fundamental forces that were in play.
michael_k's review against another edition
4.0
It was a very interesting reading and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to understand more deeply the causes of the Great War.
It is not a book for the faint hearted though. It covers the most important aspects of society (according to the author) in exhaustive detail making it more a study and less a book for easy reading.
The amount of research and detail is astonishing and it can be used as reference for the era it covers.
It is not a book for the faint hearted though. It covers the most important aspects of society (according to the author) in exhaustive detail making it more a study and less a book for easy reading.
The amount of research and detail is astonishing and it can be used as reference for the era it covers.
binstonbirchill's review against another edition
4.0
The Proud Tower presents the reader with a picture of Europe and America before the First World War, focusing on Western Europe. It mainly covers politics and social movements, class struggles and culture. Some chapters are better than others, and a reader more familiar with the era would have an easier time knowing how some of the lesser known players were. All in all it’s an interesting, if not vitally important, read on the era preceding WWI.
Giving all that was going on, it just seems like the world was ripe for war, it’s not something touched on in the book but this reader gets the impression that Tuchman would agree with him when he says that the assassination in Sarajevo was the catalyst and not the cause. The war was gonna happen eventually, only a question of when.
Giving all that was going on, it just seems like the world was ripe for war, it’s not something touched on in the book but this reader gets the impression that Tuchman would agree with him when he says that the assassination in Sarajevo was the catalyst and not the cause. The war was gonna happen eventually, only a question of when.
marisbest2's review against another edition
4.0
The turn of the century is a fascinating part of history and this book does an admirable job illustrating it, especially with a focus on political movements (anarchists, socialists, the peace camp). Barbara Tuchman is a master obviously.
Some parts were boring (especially the chapter on German music and culture). The chapter on Dreyfus was decent, the one on Thomas Reed was excellent. I wish it had a chapter on the Far East (ie China and Japan)
Overall v good
Some parts were boring (especially the chapter on German music and culture). The chapter on Dreyfus was decent, the one on Thomas Reed was excellent. I wish it had a chapter on the Far East (ie China and Japan)
Overall v good
stewg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
firerosearien's review
3.0
Tuchman knew her stuff, but this was fairly dry and thus a bit uneven. I found the chapters concerning the Dreyfus affair in France and Strauss and Germany much more interesting than the others (although the anarchist one was fairly interesting as well). Some of that is my problem; parliamentary/congressional politics don't interest me as much as social history or autocratic rulers.
miamickut's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book but it’s not written as effectively as it probably could have been. It did make me want to read her other books though.