Books on the Great War . . .

[stockwellpete]

What are people reading, or what have you read that you can recommend to others?

I am just coming to the end of John Keegan's "First World War" (1999) and I have found it a very solid and useful introduction to the war. There is a later 2006 edition of the book that you might find. I have also ordered two Robert Massie books from the library where I work - "Dreadnought", which discusses the rivalry of the Great Powers leading up to 1914, and "Castles of Steel" (2004), which looks at the naval aspects of the war between 1914 and 1918.

[VPaulus]

There are some good suggestions here:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3220531

[stockwellpete]

Yes, there are. Thanks very much for the link.

[VPaulus]

A Keegans' book is always a Keegan book. But I think it's one of the less brighter written by him.
Those books from Robert Massie are great and easy reading. Although I've prefer "Dreadnought" to "Castles of Steel". "Dreadnought is a great, great book, for those who want to read about the period before WW1.

[soldier]

A Keegans' book is always a Keegan book. But I think it's one of the less brighter written by him.
Those books from Robert Massie are great and easy reading. Although I've prefer "Dreadnought" to "Castles of Steel". "Dreadnought is a great, great booy k, for those who want to read about the period before WW1.

Cheers VPaulus
I was wondering how much of this book is dedicated to the other european nations and there relations ?
Is there much on the Ottoman, Austro Hungarian and Russian empires ?

I'm quite keen on getting something that deals with the period prior to WW1 but I'd like to learn about, the alliance systems and how the other powers saw each other as well as their ambitions and preparedness to realize them. It seems this book is primarily about Germany and Britain's naval arms race which no doubt had huge implications on the above factors but its not something I'd like to focus extensively on
is this the book for me ?

[hidde]

For a different take on the war I can recommend a Swedish writer, Peter Englund, who also happens to be Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy.

"There are many books on the First World War, but award-winning and bestselling historian Peter Englund takes a daring and stunning new approach. Describing the experiences of twenty ordinary people from around the world, all now unknown, he explores the everyday aspects of war: not only the tragedy and horror, but also the absurdity, monotony and even beauty. Two of these twenty will perish, two will become prisoners of war, two will become celebrated heroes and two others end up as physical wrecks. One of them goes mad, another will never hear a shot fired. Following soldiers and sailors, nurses and government workers, from Britain, Russia, Germany, Australia and South America - and in theatres of war often neglected by major histories on the period - Englund reconstructs their feelings, impressions, experiences and moods. This is a piece of anti-history: it brings this epoch-making event back to its smallest component, the individual."
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Beauty-And- ... 048&sr=8-1

Off topic but the other book available in english by him is also good:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Battle-That ... 048&sr=8-2

[Aryaman]

For the Ottoman army at war the book is "Ordered to die" by EJ Erickson. Extremly good, using the rich ottman sources available from the General Staff, a different version of the war from the often forgotten other side of the trench

For an indepth analysis of strategies and tactcis and a very critical overview of leadership the book is "History of the First World War" by Liddell Hart

[VPaulus]

@soldier
I don't know if you were asking about Keegan book or Massie's ones. The Keegan book is an overview of WWI, so he also writes about the Russian, Austrian and Otoman.
Massie's naval books are basically about German-English rivalry.

"The Real War 1914-18" from Liddel Hart it's on my reading backlog for 6 years.
One of the most recent additions to the backlog is "The Beauty and Sorrow" from Peter Englund.
Yes, my backlog is huge.

[XShadowY]

I literally fell in love (if I`m allowed to use that expression for books about wars) with the "... Experience" Series published by the Imperial War museum.

My first contact with the Verdun edition came absolutely accidentally when I visited Fort Douaumont. They had just one copy left which I instantly had to buy. Since then I ordered each book they have to offer on various conflicts.
The page count is rather limited, the information given might be too shallow compared to in-depth books covering a particular battle or conflict, ....but (and there`s a huge BUT) it feels like a visit of a museum. Dozens of memorabilia photos, old artwork, letters etc.
So, in the WW1 editions you have copies of correspondence to Joffre and Haig, letters of soldiers sent back to home, a flight journal of a pilot, a foldable panoramic view for artillery spotters of a particular part of the frontline and so on and so forth. When you browse through the pages you find small "hidden" pockets everywhere and gently trying to get the folded british recruiting poster out feels like a little treasure hunt...

Please excuse my adoration, but I have to admit, though just scratching the topics covered, everytime it feels fresh to open these books.

Did I mention the included CD with audio recordings of veterans? Okay, okay, I will stop now.

However, in case you are interested:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Front-E ... 448&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-1916-Experi ... pd_sim_b_1

[VPaulus]

More voices from British veterans:

From Ypres to Gallipoli: Forgotten Voices of the Great War:
http://www.theaudiobookstore.com/max-ar ... 00006.aspx

The Opening Shots: Forgotten Voices of the Great War:
http://www.theaudiobookstore.com/max-ar ... 00004.aspx

The Struggle to Victory: Forgotten Voices of the Great War:
http://www.theaudiobookstore.com/max-ar ... 00005.aspx

The Somme and Back to Ypres: Forgotten Voices of the Great War
http://www.theaudiobookstore.com/max-ar ... 00007.aspx

[majpalmer]

One of the best books is Norman Stone's The Eastern Front. The link below is to a recent paperback edition. I read it when it came out in the USA from Scribner's in 1975. (Many of you probably weren't even born yet!)

http://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Front-191 ... tern+front

[scarfacetarraff]

Storm of Steel is an excellent WWI book. I highly recommend it. It's a memoir, rather than a grand recap of events.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_of_Steel

[xriz]

Dreadnought: Britain, Germany and the Coming of the Great War.

I read this book many years ago, its more political then tactical but he takes you into the rivalries between countries and their monarchs along the and political agendas of the age that led to the great war.

http://www.amazon.ca/Dreadnought-Robert ... 0345375564

[stockwellpete]

Just finished "The Battle of Jutland" by Jon Sutherland and Diane Canwell (2007). Quite short but very well written and it gives a very clear account of the battles plus a full OOB.

[jkbrookfield]

The best book on WW1 I have read is 'A World Undone' by G.J. Meyer. Excellent analysis of the reasons for the war beginning. Also excellent play by play of the war as it happens.
He is one of those authors who make you feel you were there, like Bruce Catton's Civil War books. Highly recommended.