
The First World War
A New History
Hew Strachan(Author)
Simon & Schuster Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 13. February 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-4711-3426-5 (ISBN)
Description
A brilliant and penetrating new history of the First World War by one of the world's foremost experts on the conflict. Reissued with a new introduction from the author.
The popular view of the First World War is dominated by cliche: young British soldiers, many of them budding poets, led to early and ghastly deaths in muddy wastes by incompetent generals for reasons that were seemingly futile. As this magisterial new one volume history of the war illustrates, however, the cliche is only part of the truth. Hew Strachan argues that the war had become a 'world war' long before the involvement of the United States, and that for those liberal countries struggling to defend their freedoms, the war was far from futile. Accessible, compelling and utterly convincing, this is modern history writing at its finest.
Accessible, compelling and utterly convincing, this is modern history writing at its finest.
The popular view of the First World War is dominated by cliche: young British soldiers, many of them budding poets, led to early and ghastly deaths in muddy wastes by incompetent generals for reasons that were seemingly futile. As this magisterial new one volume history of the war illustrates, however, the cliche is only part of the truth. Hew Strachan argues that the war had become a 'world war' long before the involvement of the United States, and that for those liberal countries struggling to defend their freedoms, the war was far from futile. Accessible, compelling and utterly convincing, this is modern history writing at its finest.
Accessible, compelling and utterly convincing, this is modern history writing at its finest.
Reviews / Votes
'Quite simply the best short history of the war in print . . . Strachan has emerged as the master of us all who write of war in English' -- Dennis Showalter 'This is a book to buy if you aren't lucky enough to be given it' -- Christopher Hudson * Daily Mail Books of the Year * 'I have seldom chanced upon a short book which so brilliantly brings to life and explains an immensely complex historical phenomenon' -- Paul Johnson * Spectator * 'Every chapter contains revelations . . . The level of erudition and insight brought to bear have made the familiar strange and stimulating. The way in which Strachan brings together the detail of events and the big picture to build a compelling narrative is masterly. It really is a massive achievement' -- Stephen BungayMore details
Edition
Reissue
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
2 x 16pp plates
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
332 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4711-3426-5 (9781471134265)
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
02/2014
1st Edition
Simon + Schuster LLC
€9.02
Available for download
Person
Professor Hew Strachan is the Chichele Professor of the History of War at Oxford University, and the author of several highly acclaimed books on military history.