It will soon be close to a century since the outbreak of the first world war, yet as military historian hew strachan argues in this brilliant and authoritative onevolume history, the legacy of the war to end all wars is with us still. Marshall lecture in military history clausewitz and the first world war hew strachan abstract englishlanguage authors have blamed clausewitz twice over for his part in the first world war. There is little consideration of the experiences of the ordinary soldiers, or of the civilian populations, though the. This volume of essays examines the perceived rift between the british and german intellectual and cultural traditions before 1914 and how the resultant war of words both reflects and helped determine historical, political, and, ultimately, military events. He is a historian who specializes in the british military and in world war i. David killingray analyzes the wars impact on africa, already balkanized by colonization from the great european powers. Read the first world war pdf by hew strachan penguin books this serious, compact survey of the wars history stands out as the most wellinformed, accessible work available. Now, key sections from this magisterial work are published as individual paperbacks, each complete in itself, and with a new introduction by the author. Strachan has spent an academic lifetime reading about the great war and it shows in the global reach of his knowledge. To arms is hew strachans most complete and definitive study of the opening of the first world war. For anyone taking a serious look at this conflict and wants the historians objective take on events, in a readable form, then this is the must have book. I took a class on world war ii and the us civil war. The first world war one of the leading historians of wwi offers this superior onevolume version of his massive projected threevolume work, the first volume of which, to arms, clocked in at 1250plus pages last year.
Written in crisp, compelling prose and enlivened with vivid photographsincluding early color photographsthe first world war recreates this worldaltering. Jul 08, 2018 read the first world war pdf by hew strachan penguin books this serious, compact survey of the wars history stands out as the most wellinformed, accessible work available. Hew strachans offensive has been brewing for some time. Liddell hart attributed to him a doctrine of absolute war, embraced by european general staffs and emulated by the british. Now, hew strachan brings his immense knowledge to a onevolume work aimed squarely at the general reader. He is also life fellow of corpus christi college, cambridge, where he was successively research fellow, admissions tutor and senior tutor, 197592. The first world war was a tragic and unnecessary conflict. In the outbreak of the first world war strachan argues that the austrohungarians were largely. Forget about those working class oiks in the trenches this is a history of the first world war from the perspective of the high. Apr 05, 2005 this serious, compact survey of the wars history stands out as the most wellinformed, accessible work available.
Dec 05, 2014 the current occupant of this august position, since 2001, is hew strachan, pronounced strawn a scottish historian who specializes in the first world war, and by common consent in the academic community, one of the people in the world who knows most about it. Reviewed over the next few weeks, books, for you or the history lover in your life. The first world war by hew strachan, paperback barnes. This is the first truly definitive history of world war i, the war that has had the greatest impact on the course of the twentieth century. A brilliant and penetrating new history of the first world war by one of the world s foremost experts on the conflict. I also realized that my knowledge of wwi is woefully inept considering i have a history degree. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the first world war. Covering events in the german colonies of togoland, the cameroons, southwest africa, and east africa, the first world war in africa was originally a chapter of the monumental 1200 page to arms, the first volume of a planned trilogy on wwi. Though hardly revisionist, some of the essays do offer fresh insights into the conflict. It will not have escaped your notice in these centenary years of 191418, that wwi books are everywhere.
He is also life fellow of corpus christi college, cambridge, where he was successively research fellow. There are dozens of movies about wwii and the civil war. The first world war was not just fought in the trenches of the western front. One of the leading historians of wwi offers this superior onevolume version of his. Hew strachan was born and brought up in edinburgh, and was elected a fellow of the royal society of edinburgh 2003 and awarded an hon. Ninety years have passed since the outbreak of world war i, yet as military historian hew strachan argues in this brilliant and authoritative new book, the legacy of the war to end all wars is with us still. The first world war, by hew strachan aidanjmcquade. Mar, 2003 this is the first truly definitive history of the first world war, the war that has done most to shape the twentieth century. The listed critical essays and books will be invaluable for writing essays and papers on world war i 19141919. The other major englishlanguage work published on the eightieth anniversary of the armistice, john keegans the first world war, concluded that principle. A suggested list of literary criticism on history sparknotes s world war i 19141919. His promised 3volume series looked like becoming the definitive history of the war.
The first world war solved some problems and created others. There is great wisdom in both books, and wisdom on this subject is in short supply. Hew strachan was born in in edinburgh, scotland on september 1, 1949. An illustrated history of the first world war by john keegan. Hew strachan is one of the world s foremost experts on the great war of 191418. Hew strachan is one of the worlds foremost experts on the great war of 191418.
Even in places where the war hit hardestoddly, england suffered more losses in the first than the second world warits in danger of being lost to memory, and strachans overview brings into sharp focus the proximate causes and critical moments of the conflict, from the wellknown jutland, the somme to the comparatively little. Dec 07, 2011 i was really pleased with hew strachan s first volume he covered all the military, political and historical viewpoints in really serious depth, and it was also highly readable. The first world war by hew strachan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The first world war as a clash of cultures on jstor. Apr 01, 2017 and yet when all is said and done even with strachans cogent survey of the strategy and conduct of the war lords the first world war continues to leave an impression of a war blundered into by a group of imperial leaders with little concern for the their people. The first generation of its historians had access to a limited range of sources, and they focused primarily on military events. The inspiration behind the major channel 4 series of the same name, to which hew was chief consultant, the first world war is a significant addition to the literature on this. The first world war in africa is a rebranded version of strachan s long chapter on africa in to arms. The popular view of the first world war is dominated by cliche. To arms is hew strachan s most complete and definitive study of the opening of the first world war.
This is a history of the first world war from the perspective of the high commands. Even more than world war ii, the first world war continues to shape the politics and international relations of our world, especially in hot spots like the middle east and the balkans. A brilliant and penetrating new history of the first world war by one of the worlds foremost experts on the conflict. He is currently professor of international relations at the university of st andrews, and a council member of the royal company of archers, the queens. The first world war kindle edition by strachan, hew. Oxford has set the standard in illustrated histories, and this one doesnt disappoint. This volume of essays examines the perceived rift between the british and german intellectual and cultural traditions before 1914 and how the resultant war of words both reflects and helped determine. Based on the book by hew strachan and narrated by jonathan lewis, the series covers all aspects of the war.
About the first world war this serious, compact survey of the wars history stands out as the most wellinformed, accessible work available. The first world war 2003 is a tenpart channel 4 documentary television series surveying the history of world war i 19141918. A century has passed since the outbreak of world war i, yet as military historian hew strachan argues in this brilliant and authoritative new book, the legacy of the war to end all wars is with us still. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Even more than world war ii, the first world epub war continues to shape the politics and international relations of our world, especially in hot spots like the. Covering events in the german colonies of togoland, the cameroons, southwest africa, and east africa, the first world war in africa was originally a chapter. The first world war hew strachan pdf by gothicjewelry57. Hew strachan first word war volume 2 books and book. The editor of the oxford history of the first world war, he is writing a threevolume history of the first world war, the first volume of which was published in.
The old battle lines of firstworldwar history have been changed for ever. Despite these criticisms the new oxford illustrated history is a worthy addition to anybodys library on the first world war. About the first world war this serious, compact survey of the war s history stands out as the most wellinformed, accessible work available. Studying for a masters degree on the first world war you read hundreds of hefty and light texts that cover parts of the first world war, or the whole thing. The outbreak of the first world war by hew strachan. Canadians in the first world war bill freeman and richard nielsen. Its global approach is a timely reminder of the scope and impact of this war. Feb 06, 2003 this is the first truly definitive history of the first world war, the war that has done most to shape the twentieth century. This is the first truly definitive history of the first world war, the war that has done most to shape the twentieth century.
The first world war was a truly global conflict from the start, with many of the most decisive battles fought in or directly affecting the balkans, africa, and the ottoman empire. In it hew strachan describes military operations in their broader context, rarely delving into the details of individual battles. It is based on the 2003 book of the same name by oxford history professor hew strachan. The first world war was a truly global conflict from. A solid yet concise illustrated history of the great war by a team of international scholars. Almost everyone born in the twentieth century grew up in the shadow of the first world war. It meets professor sir hew strachans challenge to view the war through a fresh set of lenses. The first world war hew strachan oxford university press. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the first world war study guide and get instant access to the following summary. Putting a human face on the war, the author brings to life individual decisions and experiences as well as environmental and technological factors such as food, geography, manpower, and weapons. David killingray analyzes the war s impact on africa, already balkanized by colonization from the great european powers. I read the first world war by hew strachan mostly because it was recommended by the army chief of staff. There is little consideration of the experiences of the ordinary soldiers, or of the civilian populations, though the appalling depredations that they experienced in many places are noted.
In a compact but comprehensive and clear narrative, this book explores the first world war from a genuinely global perspective. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes world war i 19141919 study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. Covering events in the german colonies of togoland, the cameroons, south west africa, and east africa, the first world war in africa was originally a chapter. Nearly a century has passed since the outbreak of world war i, yet as military historian hew strachan winner of the 2016 pritzker literature award argues in. Forget about those working class oiks in the trenches this is a history of the first world war from the perspective of the high commands. Use the link below to share a fulltext version of this article with your friends and colleagues. The first world war hew strachan pdf by gothicjewelry57 issuu. Forget about those working class oiks in the trenches. The first world war in africa is a rebranded version of strachans long chapter on africa in to arms. A wellconceived and lucidly written survey of the 20th centurys first great. The first world war is the definitive documentary series about the global conflict which shaped the 20th century. More recent approaches have embraced cultural, diplomatic, economic, and social history. The first generation of its historians had access to only a limited range of sources, and their focus was primarily on military events.
Jan 01, 2003 i read the first world war by hew strachan mostly because it was recommended by the army chief of staff. In this centenary era he was no doubt chosen for that reason. Hew strachan s offensive has been brewing for some time. Even in places where the war hit hardestoddly, england suffered more losses in the first than the second world war its in danger of being lost to memory, and strachan s overview brings into sharp focus the proximate causes and critical moments of the conflict, from the wellknown jutland, the somme to the comparatively little. The first world war as a clash of cultures book description.
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