|
A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918 |  | Author: G.J. Meyer
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Category: Book
List Price: $21.00
Buy New: $13.49
as of 3/21/2010 14:26 CDT details
You Save: $7.51 (36%)
New (14) Used (12) from $12.12
Seller: allnewbooks
Rating:  67 reviews
Sales Rank: 10226
Media: Paperback
Pages: 816
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.2 x 1.6
ISBN: 0553382403
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.3
EAN: 9780553382402
ASIN: 0553382403
Publication Date: May 29, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The First World War is one of history’s greatest tragedies. In this remarkable and intimate account, author G. J. Meyer draws on exhaustive research to bring to life the story of how the Great War reduced Europe’s mightiest empires to rubble, killed twenty million people, and cracked the foundations of the world we live in today.
The First World War is one of history’s greatest tragedies. In this remarkable and intimate account, author G. J. Meyer draws on exhaustive research to bring to life the story of how the Great War reduced Europe’s mightiest empires to rubble, killed twenty million people, and cracked the foundations of the world we live in today.
From the Hardcover edition.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 67
G. J. Meyer's "Labor of Love" is a Historical Classic March 19, 2010
Grant Waara (Lusk, Wyoming, United States)
First off, let's say what this book is not. It's not a complete history of World War I. Africa is ignored (a shame really, Paul von Lettow Vorbeck is easily one of the German Army's greatest generals and a good man), the war at sea is only touched upon and no mention is made of the great flying aces like Richtofen, Boelcke, Mannock, Bishop and Ball. This book certainly could have used more maps, particularly in regards to the war in the East. A really good map of the Tannenberg battle would have been epsecially helpful.
Having said that, this is probably the best introduction a general reader is likely to get on the Great War. Mr. Meyer has managed to do for the First World War what James McPherson did for the Civil War in Battle Cry of Freedom. It's a miracle of clarity and research. The seeming gourdian knot of European treaties, policies and war plans are made crystal clear for the reader. This is history writing at it's best. Best of all, are the "Background" sections which tell the reader a particular episode concerning the war, but this doesn't detract from the narrative.
I'm just beginning to get into the First World War. I'm not ready to say if it's the best book on the subject or not. But it's certainly the most accessible. If you know little about the war and want to get grounded in the basics, then this is the book for you.
Cheers!
Well written, easy to read February 23, 2010
W. Goding
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I got this book not knowing much about the First World War but wanting to learn more. This book does a great job explaining the background behind key people and events leading up to the war. As well as more in depth sections about the main battles and events of each year. I thought it was very well written and organized and I would definately recommend it. My only minor complaint is the lack of maps. There are a few scattered thoughout but I would have found the battles and troop movements easier to follow with more maps.
Only 3 Voices Left January 7, 2010
Wade Young (High Atop Killmotor Hill, GA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just completed reading G.J. Meyer's book "A World Undone: The Great War 1914-1918". And I highly recommend it to anyone who would like a better understanding of World War I. It is a well written and concise but detailed narrative history of the war. The book does an excellent job of pulling together all the fronts and the political wrangling that lead to the blood spilled. Between the chapters dealing with the major battles, there are short chapters dedicated to the main characters of the war that fill you in on their background to help you better understand their decisions and the creeping madness that eventually afflicted all of them.
In a sense, the world was at war much longer than just the 4 years between 1914 and 1918. The start of World War I was the result of European conflicts deeply rooted in the areas in which the war was fought. The Balkan Wars of 1912, the Hapsburg Empire's annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908 and the Franco-Prussian wars of the 19th century all played a part in bringing about the First World War.
The people of Europe cheered as the war began. This was the time to right old wrongs, to regain territories and honor taken away through previous conflicts. No one expected the war to last very long. No one thought the slaughter would be on a scale unheard of in all of history. Every European believed that victory was imperative and were told by government propaganda machines the enemy wanted nothing less than the total destruction of their homeland and that to try for peace was to commit national suicide. As their men marched off to war excitement was high and victory expected in every country.
As for the war itself, it was madness. Millions of men, standing in fetid conditions taking the pounding punishment of artillery barrages and sniper fire day after day for four years is an unimaginable hell. We get squeamish at the thought of a few thousand killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. The soldiers of World War I faced HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS killed during every new offensive of the war. Wave after wave of men were hurled at positions so strongly defended as to be impregnable. The results were (of course) always catastrophic.
In the end, there were 9.8 million military deaths and the seeds of the next "great war" were sown as Germany surrendered without a single enemy having set foot on home soil.
Worldwide there are only 3 confirmed Veteran's of World War I left alive. Three more soldiers to go and then this war will have passed irretrievably into history's fog like all other wars before it.
I would recommend reading this book to anyone who is looking to get a grasp on this war. 5 Stars.
 Good Breadth, Decent Depth December 9, 2009
D. Owen (Albany, NY)
What I like about this book are the sections between each chapter that give more background on a specific person, event or situation that is relevant to what you just read in the previous chapter or are about to read in the next. It helps the reader understand more of the background behind many of the events during WWI. The book does a good job of covering the "less" popular fronts, especially the actions involving the armies of Austria-Hungarian empire.
The details are deep enough to give the reader a good understanding without getting lost. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It is one of the better "global" overview books on WWI I have read. The insight into the politically focused activities in the various capitals of the primary players in the conflict was an unexpected element of the book. In particular, the back room dealings of the diplomats and government agents in the weeks leading up to August 1st, 1914 are uniquely brought to life in this book.
Phenomenal single volume overview of WWI November 26, 2009
C. Abernathy (SF/Bay Area)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A World Undone will give you the basics on the WWI period with a highly readable and extremely enjoyable narrative. Meyer's success is that he lays out a lot of the pieces and shows you how they are connected with such ease and style. The text is either a great departure point for additional study or a stand alone experience if you need to have a comprehensive but general foundation of this great historical moment. So much of what the rest of the XXth century (and beyond) was about was wrought in the Great War - e.g. Ludendorff cleared Lenin to travel back to Russia in the hopes of a Communist consolidation of power and the eventual disruption of the Russian will to continue fighting.
WWI was a shattering of Western Civilization's concept of itself. Meyer covers in brief but informed fashion everything from politics to technology to the devastating points of breakdown in a Victorian world thrust into an age of advanced mechanization and a science of war which often outstripped human imagination.
You can't go wrong with this text.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 67
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
![[your site name here]](http://www.miniaturewargaming.com/graphics/header2.jpg)
