The CHIEF: Douglas Haig and the British Army
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Review
‘Solid scholarship and admirable advocacy’ (Seven (Sunday Telegraph) )
‘A true judgement of (Haig) must lie somewhere between hero and zero, and in this detailed biography Gary Sheffield shows himself well qualified to make it… a balanced portrait.’ (The Sunday Times (Culture) )
‘Well written and persuasive biography…objective and well-rounded….this scholarly rehabilitation should be the standard biography (of Haig)’ – Andrew Roberts Four stars **** (Mail on Sunday )
‘Sheffield is very good indeed in his analysis of Haig’s battles…his account of the Somme is particularly good. This is a good book and a balanced book.’ (The Scotsman )
‘Erudite reappraisal’ (Daily Mail )
‘Sheffield’s excellent scholarship convincingly shows precisely why Haig died a national hero’ (The Times )
'A well-researched and thought-provoking book' (Soldier magazine )
'No-one knows Haig's army better than Prof Sheffield.' (Country Life )
‘A true judgement of (Haig) must lie somewhere between hero and zero, and in this detailed biography Gary Sheffield shows himself well qualified to make it… a balanced portrait.’ (The Sunday Times (Culture) )
‘Well written and persuasive biography…objective and well-rounded….this scholarly rehabilitation should be the standard biography (of Haig)’ – Andrew Roberts Four stars **** (Mail on Sunday )
‘Sheffield is very good indeed in his analysis of Haig’s battles…his account of the Somme is particularly good. This is a good book and a balanced book.’ (The Scotsman )
‘Erudite reappraisal’ (Daily Mail )
‘Sheffield’s excellent scholarship convincingly shows precisely why Haig died a national hero’ (The Times )
'A well-researched and thought-provoking book' (Soldier magazine )
'No-one knows Haig's army better than Prof Sheffield.' (Country Life )
Review
'Solid scholarship and admirable advocacy' Seven (Sunday Telegraph) 'A true judgement of (Haig) must lie somewhere between hero and zero, and in this detailed biography Gary Sheffield shows himself well qualified to make it... a balanced portrait.' The Sunday Times (Culture) 'Well written and persuasive biography...objective and well-rounded...this scholarly rehabilitation should be the standard biography (of Haig)' - Andrew Roberts Four stars **** Mail on Sunday 'Sheffield is very good indeed in his analysis of Haig's battles...his account of the Somme is particularly good. This is a good book and a balanced book.' The Scotsman 'Erudite reappraisal' Daily Mail 'Sheffield's excellent scholarship convincingly shows precisely why Haig died a national hero' The Times 'A well-researched and thought-provoking book' Soldier magazine 'No-one knows Haig's army better than Prof Sheffield.' Country Life
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Well written, superbly researched - Gary Sheffield's balanced view on Douglas Haig is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Great War. This is not a revisionist whitewash of Douglas Haig, and Gary Sheffield looks in depth at Haig's strengths and weaknesses before arriving at the conclusion that Haig played a pivitol role in bringing about Allied victory in WWI. Many of the myths about Haig that have become commonplace are countered and shown to be incorrect, and Haig's earlier reputation as the man who led the BEF to victory is reaffirmed. Professor Sheffield also looks in depth at the work of Haig before and after the War, and his role in working for ex-servicemen as they struggled to re-adapt. Is this book worth 5 stars - without a shadow of a doubt and Gary Sheffield's position as the leading authority on the Great War is sustained.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read a couple of Gary Sheffield's books I was given "The Chief" for Christmas. Despite the lack of any maps (I understand the cartographer was given three days to do them!) the book is well-balanced and researched, portraying Haig as arguably the only man up to the job of leading an army from small beginnings in 1914 to one that was ultimately victorious in 1918, able to withstand the German Spring Offensive of that year. What sets Gary Sheffield's book apart from other books on Haig, is the way he has dealt with the criticisms of Haig (tanks, gas, cavalry, casualty figures) that have become entrenched over the years. This book should be read by any historian that blithely warbles on about the 'Blackadderesque' perception of the Great War. Haig had a difficult job to do and was probably the ONLY General who seized the moment in 1918 - effectively by not telling the politicians until he had won the war. His post war involvement in the poppy appeal showed how much he understood the sacrifices made by the troops, and the fact he refused to write his memoirs while Lloyd George attempted to vilify Haig only adds to the stature of the former and detracts from that of the latter.
Like Churchill in WW2, Haig was the man of the moment. As Gary Sheffield accepts, he made mistakes but as with the Army, Haig learnt from these mistakes. The book has been written in a way that whether new to the subject or not, the reader will come away from it with an incite to a very private man that has not previously been available. Thoroughly recommended
Like Churchill in WW2, Haig was the man of the moment. As Gary Sheffield accepts, he made mistakes but as with the Army, Haig learnt from these mistakes. The book has been written in a way that whether new to the subject or not, the reader will come away from it with an incite to a very private man that has not previously been available. Thoroughly recommended
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
this is probably the most balanced bio I have ever read. Sheffield goes out of his way to remain objective throughout this work. He also strives to include oposing veiwpoints from those who disagree with him and the reasons. It seems to have been written by possibly the most reasonable man in the country. It is a brilliant book exposing alot of the misconceptions that still exist pertaining to the war, and haig and the overall strategy. As someone who works in a military museum and constantly have to correct the sweeping generalisations people come up with I found a very useful tool. afterall we do live in a blame culture populated by people who use soundbites as teh truth . it felt more like a explanation than a rehabilitation, like someone setting you straight on some points after they have done all the hard work of investigating the matter, and doing so without ego or agenda.
well balanced, excellently assembled research, and with an excellent pace throughout ( in otherwords It didnt get dry and stuffy) all in all its how a military bio should be written and I look forward to reading more from Mr Sheffield
well balanced, excellently assembled research, and with an excellent pace throughout ( in otherwords It didnt get dry and stuffy) all in all its how a military bio should be written and I look forward to reading more from Mr Sheffield
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Haig
Not sure why the book scores so highly. The book will no doubt be read by those who have an interest in both Haig and the First World War and I doubt sadly, that many in todays... Read more
Published 14 days ago by backbone
Fascinating
So far I have got about half way through this book. It is an interesting and thought provoking study of one of historys more controversial characters. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Non Fiction Nut
Excellent.
Another excellent book from the Gary Sheffield stable. This is a fresh look at a very controversial military commander and is the latest in a long line of biographies of this... Read more
Published 7 months ago by leerog
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