Secret Warriors
Key Scientists, Code Breakers and Propagandists of the Great War
Published on 1. May 2014
Book
Hardback
448 pages
978-1-4087-0421-9 (ISBN)
Description
The First World War is often viewed as a war fought by armies of millions living and fighting in trenches, aided by brutal machinery that cost the lives of many. But behind all of this a scientific war was also being fought between engineers, chemists, physicists, doctors, mathematicians and intelligence gatherers. This hidden war was to make a positive and lasting contribution to how war was conducted on land, at sea and in the air, and most importantly life at home.
Secret Warriors provides an invaluable and fresh history of the First World War, profiling a number of the key figures who made great leaps in science for the benefit of 20th Century Britain. Told in a lively, narrative style, Secret Warriors reveals the unknown side of the war.
Secret Warriors provides an invaluable and fresh history of the First World War, profiling a number of the key figures who made great leaps in science for the benefit of 20th Century Britain. Told in a lively, narrative style, Secret Warriors reveals the unknown side of the war.
Reviews / Votes
Exactly what you want from a history of the boffins and technological pioneers of the First World War. There are bluff military adventurers and clumsy gentleman scientists * The Times * [A] fascinating new take on the Great War * Daily Express * Secret Warriors is a compelling insight into the role intellectuals can play in the business of war * History of War magazine * Unique and timely, interesting and useful * Military History * [A] fascinating study * New Statesman * Lucid and entertaining . . . Secret Warriors is full of interesting characters . . . The straightforward story Downing tells is a refreshing change from older treatments of science and war * Nature * The war started the long road to the world of cyber warriors, electronic eavesdropping and large-scale chemical weapons we know today. It is a fearsome legacy, and Downing charts its birth with knowledge, wit and skill * Literary Review * Downing delivers a riveting account -- Starred Review * Publisher's Weekly * A very successful work. Downing's voice is clear and highly readable * Library Journal * an ingenious history that sets aside WWI's immense slaughter in order to concentrate on those who labored behind the scenes . . . Downing delivers a riveting account * Publishers Weekly * Secret Warriors lifts the lid on an underappreciated cast of characters * Herald *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Illustrations
Sections: 16, b/w photos
Dimensions
Height: 165 mm
Width: 235 mm
Thickness: 40 mm
Weight
760 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4087-0421-9 (9781408704219)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2014
Little, Brown Book Group
€3.99
Available for download
Person
Taylor Downing was educated at Cambridge University and is the author of The Cold War, Breakdown (about shell-shock in WWI) , and Churchill's War Lab. His books are 'vivid and fast-paced' (Financial Times).