The First World War
Published on 1. October 1989
Book
Hardback
468 pages
978-0-19-821946-0 (ISBN)
Description
In this new interpretation of the First World War, the author weaves together the economic and social history of the English-speaking world, the Pacific basin, and Germany, with the development of food production and consumption. He argues that global changes in agrarian production paved the way for the war and affected the experience and prospects of ordinary people and the outlook of admirals, generals and statesmen. The book also discusses the social history of emigration and settlement, racial exclusion, and the wider ramifications of food production and consumption. The text is meant to be accessible to a wide range of people and requires no technical knowledge. It will appeal to anyone with an interest in the origins of the 20th century world and questions of defence and strategy.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Oxford University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
illustrations, tables, bibliography, index
ISBN-13
978-0-19-821946-0 (9780198219460)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Part 1 How was Germany defeated?: society under seige - Germany 1914-1918; food reform and food science; did Germany really starve?; food and the German state; collapse. Part 2 The agrarian bond - the United States, Canada and Australia: late-Victorian Britain - an import economy; causes of the agricultural depression, 1870-1914; the sod house against the manor house; "like rats in a trap" - British urban society and overseas opportunities; coast, interior and metropolis; wheat and empire in Canada; Asian labour on the Pacific rim - the struggle for exclusion, 1860-1907; Mackenzie King's odyssey; Asian labour and white nationalism 1907-1914. Part 3 The Atlantic orientation: fear of famine in British war plans, 1890-1908; power and plenty - naval mercantilism, 1905-1908; the Atlantic orientation - Hankey, Fisher and Esher; the Dominion dimension; morality and admiralty - "Jacky" Fisher, economic warfare and international law; blockade and its enemies, 1909-1912; preparation and action, 1912-1914. Part 4 The other side of the North Sea: economic development and national security in Wilhelmian Germany; Germany - economic preparation and the decision for war; "a second decision for war" - the U-boat campaign; shaping the peace - the role of the Hinterlands; neither Dominion nor peace - Germany after the Armistice.