The Western Front Association: furthering interest in the Great War 1914-18 | explore | learn | share

ISBN: 0 19 280445 6 SB 154 pages £8.99

Published by Oxford University Press

There have been numerous books written about the Great War, many of which purport to give the reader a concise and accurate analysis of the complex strategies that unfolded in this most tumultuous event of the early 20^th century.

Michael Howard has in this concise book provided the reader with the facts of why the First World War occurred, how it was fought, and why it had the consequences it did. It examines the state of Europe in 1914 and the outbreak of war. It moves fluidly to the onset of attrition in 1915 and the set piece battles of 1916. The period of 1917 and 1918 covers the collapse of the German alliance, but not before the near collapse and defeat of the Entente powers.

The book contains excellent maps, which add to the overall package, and it is well indexed.

This book is a first class work on the Great War. For those from the ‘revisionist school’ a few of the comments within the book may make difficult reading, but overall it is an excellent read. The Times Literary Supplement summons this book up perfectly ‘succinct, comprehensive and beautifully written’.

Reviewer: Martin Hornby