WhiteWolf Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Hi Pals Question I/You/We need to buy just 1 book that covers The Great War. Which would it be Andy Remember just 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montbrehain Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 NONE ! its impossible to cover such a subject in 1 book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf Posted 3 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 December , 2006 NONE ! its impossible to cover such a subject in 1 book. Yeah but if you were recommending a book for a newbie to the whole Great War experience what would it be? come on you must have one. Andy the awkward one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Andy Martin Gilbert's 1994 effort First World War is a pretty fair attempt to compress the whole conflict into one book. It has its drawbacks, and there are some aspects that various people will believe deserve greater or lesser detail, but he does get the main story across. Cheers Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodB Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Hew Strachan is writing a series of I think 3 books. The first volume, "WWI To Arms" is the most intellectually rigorous treatment I have come across. He provides context, points out common misrepresentations (such as the action of German volunteers at Ypres in 1914), looks at why as much as what and how. Gets his facts right. The final work published as a single (fat) volume would be definitive. My only criticism would be that the first volume gives more attention to socioeconomic aspects than purely military aspects. Yet even here I found a more considered treatment of the action of my grandfather's division (42nd) on the Suez Canal than I have found elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Recommending just one book would be pointless, how would you get a balanced in depth view? Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Recommending just one book would be pointless, how would you get a balanced in depth view? Mick I have many many books relating in some way to WW1 but still buy every new book thats published because its never enough. I don't even think I could give you the top 10. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John(txic) Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Martin Middlebrook's "First Day on the Somme" gave me a most enjoyable and informative introduction to the whole subject, and fired my interest to greater depths. Unhesitatingly recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan and Terry Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Yeah but if you were recommending a book for a newbie to the whole Great War experience what would it be? come on you must have one. Andy the awkward one For a newbie,then I would suggest The First World War by John Keegan,that should certainly start a life long interest,the problem then starts,you can never have enough knowledge,the Great War was just too big to be covered by fifty books.Ask the members of the Forum how many books they each have,and still keep on buying. regards Joan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 For a newbie that doesn't want to be tied down with text, and would like some good and relevant photographs, plus still have a good text there to fall back on, I really don't think you can do better currently than Peter Barton's 'Battlefields of the First World War'. You can get it on Amazon and if you buy it via the Amazon links on this site, it will help support the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Lyn Macdonald's "Voices and Images of the Great War" is another good, easy to read and well illustrated introduction to the war. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Andy All you would hope to do with one book is tempt the reader into reading more. The key here is knowing the person and thinking what might tempt them. You know this mythical person and I don't. So your call from Middlebrooke's "First Day on the Somme", MacDonald's "Voices and Images...." or Holmes' "Tommy". Pick the right one and it'll grab them. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Take on me Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 1914-1918 David Stevenson. The whole war, causes, events, consequences in one volume. Exceptional. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Captain JC Dunn: The War the Infantry Knew. Western Front, start to finish, through the eyes of one battalion. Transfixing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Blanchard Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 The First World War by AJP Taylor. Provocative and interesting photographs and captions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryww1 Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 Covenants of Death................... pictures say more than words can ever do ! History is a matter of changing ideas, information and interpretation. You cant change the realities of the pictues in this book...they stay as a testament for all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter__m Posted 3 December , 2006 Share Posted 3 December , 2006 I'm reading Lucy's 'There's a Devil in the Drum' I suppose it depends on what perspective you're looking for too. Not to mention the period... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 4 December , 2006 Share Posted 4 December , 2006 Tickled to Death to Go - the memoirs of Trooper Ben Clouting, 4th Dragoon Guards and Old Contemptible, edited by Richard Van Emden. A good intro to the early days of the war, running right through to it's end. and Some Desperate Glory- Edwin Campion Vaughan- a good taste of the trenches..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf Posted 4 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2006 For a newbie that doesn't want to be tied down with text, and would like some good and relevant photographs, plus still have a good text there to fall back on, I really don't think you can do better currently than Peter Barton's 'Battlefields of the First World War'. You can get it on Amazon and if you buy it via the Amazon links on this site, it will help support the forum. Hi Paul Can't find the link I order loads of stuff through Amazon so if it helps the forum I'll use the link every time. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 4 December , 2006 Share Posted 4 December , 2006 This is what you need: Amazon Link - GWF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf Posted 4 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2006 This is what you need: Amazon Link - GWF Cheers Paul Is this the link that will benefit the site? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 4 December , 2006 Share Posted 4 December , 2006 Yes! It's the link Chris provided when he first flagged this up. Type 'amazon link' into the site search to check it if you wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf Posted 4 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2006 Yes! It's the link Chris provided when he first flagged this up. Type 'amazon link' into the site search to check it if you wish. No thats ok Paul I thank you for the link, but I think my credit card will hate you for ever Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 6 December , 2006 Share Posted 6 December , 2006 Andy, I am assuming that the book must meet certain requirements: 1) provide an overview of the war from its origins pre 1914 to the conclusion in 1918; 2) cover all theatres of the war; 3) your newbie is British/Commonwealth and thus the overview has a slant towards the British effort when describing battles in a little more detail; 4) provide an overview of the political/strategic context in which major offensives were fought; 5) provide a balanced approach; 6) well written and thus easy to read; and 7) manageable by being less than 500 pages long. Then I would have to support Joan's recommendation of John Keegan's The First World War I haven't read Gilbert's book of the same title, but for a starter on gaining an overview of WW1 Keegan's work is an excellent history of the war, albiet for a British and Commonwealth audience. First class read. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMacdonald Posted 6 December , 2006 Share Posted 6 December , 2006 I just know there'll be flak over this honest choice, but here it is any way. All Quiet on the Western Front, by EM Remarque. Andy M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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