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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 against another edition
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.
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