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ghost_of_the_library 's review for:
A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918
by G.J. Meyer
Some editing was done to typos and some feedback added now that it's been awhile since I read it the first time.
Unlike most people of my generation whose historic interest always seems to drift towards WWII, i have always found myself intensely drawn towards this conflict, THE WAR TO END ALL WARS as it was then called, mostly because i now firmly believe that it is the root of many of the problems that Europe, and the world by extension, face today.
Over the years i read many books, watched countless documentaries and always felt that the writers/authors either did something 100% military or 100% political...the balance between the many aspects of this complex conflict always seemed to be lacking.
Well, somewhat to my surprise, i think Mr. Meyers as done it brilliantly here in describing a war that was complicated, inglorious and wiped out an entire generation of very talented people on both sides of the conflict.
His journalistic background gives us readers a startling sense of proximity, which only increases when you look at the human effects of the war that he so well mixes with his tale. So, instead of becoming an endless parade of boring numbers, this book turns into a fascinating tale about a four-year calamity of human miscalculation and supreme arrogance in the leadership of all countries involved, balanced only by the unbelievable heroism shown by those in the ranks.
The short background articles that Meyers provides on subjects like Kaiser Wilhelm, the Junkers, the Cossacks, etc, provide us with a proper understanding of the period, and are absolutely fascinating in their own right.
I correct myself from my initial opinion and I think this one is a top 5 in the list of best books on WWI out there!
Don't let it's size scare you away from reading it, this book is both a great introduction to this particularly dark period of history and the best one volume history of WWI out there...should you be looking to add to your library, stick with this, you will not regret it!
I ran into it today on Kindle for a very appealing price and added a digital copy to my paper copy....yeah I do stuff like that all the time
Unlike most people of my generation whose historic interest always seems to drift towards WWII, i have always found myself intensely drawn towards this conflict, THE WAR TO END ALL WARS as it was then called, mostly because i now firmly believe that it is the root of many of the problems that Europe, and the world by extension, face today.
Over the years i read many books, watched countless documentaries and always felt that the writers/authors either did something 100% military or 100% political...the balance between the many aspects of this complex conflict always seemed to be lacking.
Well, somewhat to my surprise, i think Mr. Meyers as done it brilliantly here in describing a war that was complicated, inglorious and wiped out an entire generation of very talented people on both sides of the conflict.
His journalistic background gives us readers a startling sense of proximity, which only increases when you look at the human effects of the war that he so well mixes with his tale. So, instead of becoming an endless parade of boring numbers, this book turns into a fascinating tale about a four-year calamity of human miscalculation and supreme arrogance in the leadership of all countries involved, balanced only by the unbelievable heroism shown by those in the ranks.
The short background articles that Meyers provides on subjects like Kaiser Wilhelm, the Junkers, the Cossacks, etc, provide us with a proper understanding of the period, and are absolutely fascinating in their own right.
I correct myself from my initial opinion and I think this one is a top 5 in the list of best books on WWI out there!
Don't let it's size scare you away from reading it, this book is both a great introduction to this particularly dark period of history and the best one volume history of WWI out there...should you be looking to add to your library, stick with this, you will not regret it!
I ran into it today on Kindle for a very appealing price and added a digital copy to my paper copy....yeah I do stuff like that all the time