Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads
Friday, August 23, 2013
New Appreciations of the War's Origins & Opening Events
Publishers have recruited some of today's leading historians to take a fresh look at the outbreak of the war. These titles are coming on-stream in 2013.
Have just completed The Sleepwalkers, from a layman's viewpoint I can attest to this being a monumental work. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
It traces the origins of the War from 1871 & then painstakingly & in great detail the book covers all possible perspectives and all the different countries that ultimately were involved in starting the war. In the closing chapters it clearly brings out how some of the main players were reluctant participants, but that the thread of alliances created over the previous decade dictated an inexorable path to war. It is well written & easy to read.
Have just completed The Sleepwalkers, from a layman's viewpoint I can attest to this being a monumental work. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
ReplyDeleteIt traces the origins of the War from 1871 & then painstakingly & in great detail the book covers all possible perspectives and all the different countries that ultimately were involved in starting the war. In the closing chapters it clearly brings out how some of the main players were reluctant participants, but that the thread of alliances created over the previous decade dictated an inexorable path to war.
It is well written & easy to read.