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chapita4's review against another edition
Wow, did I struggle with this book! I am not familiar enough with European geography to know where cities are located. It was very informative and had an overwhelming amount of information. I read to the middle of the book before I gave up. I didn't think I was retaining enough information to make it worthwhile to keep reading. This was a library book and the due date was closing in fast....maybe another time.
katieinca's review against another edition
4.0
I am now considerably less of a liability on future Trivial Pursuit teams.
jamelchior's review against another edition
4.0
Keegan’s one-volume history of the First World War is primarily a military history, and one that gives an exceptionally clear explanation of how the entire military action of the war unfolded. Strengths include the author’s depth of knowledge and the care taken with the detail of the armies and their commanders, what they were thinking, and what made them succeed or fail.
This isn’t a war account designed to make you feel; it’s one that insists that you think, and helps you to think. I had to read it slowly, and at times I felt frustrated. The author refrains from taking sides or creating heroes. Instead, he’s interested in universal human characteristics, including why armies sometimes stop fighting, and why people are crazy enough to fight in the first place.
This isn’t a war account designed to make you feel; it’s one that insists that you think, and helps you to think. I had to read it slowly, and at times I felt frustrated. The author refrains from taking sides or creating heroes. Instead, he’s interested in universal human characteristics, including why armies sometimes stop fighting, and why people are crazy enough to fight in the first place.
tomsowa's review against another edition
5.0
Extensive and impressive
John Keegan traces the sweep of the Great War in a style of historical researcher and astonished student of human folly. His book could be subtitled “How A Continent Foolishly Marched Into A lethal Madness”
John Keegan traces the sweep of the Great War in a style of historical researcher and astonished student of human folly. His book could be subtitled “How A Continent Foolishly Marched Into A lethal Madness”
soundracer's review against another edition
5.0
In my quest to learn more about World War I, I started with "The Guns of August" -- a great book in itself -- which comes to an abrupt stop in August 1914, when the war of movement ends and the war of trenches begins. I wanted to know, "What happened next"? Keegan's one volume history offers a thorough answer to that question.
Keegan is first and foremost a military historian and the narrative is framed by the war's great battles -- including those of 1914. But he includes enough political and social context to paint a complete picture of why things progressed as they did. The Western Front is very well covered but Keegan also sheds light on the lesser known (and just as horrific) events in the East and South (Italy). Other theaters, particularly the Middle East and Turkey (Gallipoli) are covered more lightly.
Keegan's prose is a bit florid and took some getting used to, but his summation of the war in the closing pages (which is not to be missed) is quite elegant. Main drawback, as with so much military history, is the maps -- not enough detail and hard to read, at least in the paperback version.
Keegan is first and foremost a military historian and the narrative is framed by the war's great battles -- including those of 1914. But he includes enough political and social context to paint a complete picture of why things progressed as they did. The Western Front is very well covered but Keegan also sheds light on the lesser known (and just as horrific) events in the East and South (Italy). Other theaters, particularly the Middle East and Turkey (Gallipoli) are covered more lightly.
Keegan's prose is a bit florid and took some getting used to, but his summation of the war in the closing pages (which is not to be missed) is quite elegant. Main drawback, as with so much military history, is the maps -- not enough detail and hard to read, at least in the paperback version.
bkeving_74's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting
My main interest is in WW2 but to understand that war I felt I had to go back to the Great War. It helps put the later war into context. Trench warfare reading is not as captivating as the military movements in the Second World War. Nonetheless it was necessary for me to understand what happened at that time.
My main interest is in WW2 but to understand that war I felt I had to go back to the Great War. It helps put the later war into context. Trench warfare reading is not as captivating as the military movements in the Second World War. Nonetheless it was necessary for me to understand what happened at that time.
leslielu67's review against another edition
5.0
Well-written accessible WWI book touching on all theaters, not just the Western Front. Excellent chapter chronicling the alliances, treaties and emotion that the assissination of the Archduke tested, and how the 6-week delay in action really set up the inevitable world war. The fall of the Russian monarchy and the rise of the soviet state and its struggles once Russia was out of the war was all facsinating - especially the bit about Czech soldiers commandeering the trans-Siberian railroad for passage EAST to Vladivostok in order to catch ships back to France in order to fight again. America's contribution was mentioned briefly; as a Yank I would have liked to hear more about the doughboys, but that is for another book I am sure. The importance of America's entry into the war and its ability to bring over millions of men was made clear by all the data of how depleted each side was, by 1917, of young men.
rallisaurus's review against another edition
2.0
Not a bad book, I'm just not very interested in military history.
rallisaurus's review
3.0
Pretty basic and mostly unimpressive military history. Not a big fan of military history as a general rule, but I had higher hopes for this book. I added a star because some of the illustrations were truly spectacular. Halfway between a textbook and coffee table book, not really successful as either. Still worth the $7 though.