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'The most readable, sceptical and original of modern historians' - Michael Foot 'Remarkable ... Taylor here manages in some 200 illustrated pages to say almost everything that is important for an understanding and, indeed, intellectual digestion of that vast event' Observer 'It is unlikely that there will be a more satisfactory compact survey of that Armageddon' Newsweek 'What makes Taylor's book outstanding is his capacity to penetrate through the undergrowth of controversy and conflicting interpretation to the central truth' New York Review of Books 'Probably the most controversial historian in the English-speaking world' The Times
Product Description
A. J. P. Taylor was one of the most acclaimed and uncompromising historians of the twentieth century. In this clear, lively and now-classic account of the First World War, he tells the story of the conflict from the German advance in the West, through the Marne, Gallipoli, the Balkans and the War at Sea to the offensives of 1918 and the state of Europe after the war. Containing photographs and maps, this an essential history of the war that 'cut deep into the consciousness of modern man'.
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Their deaths started it all: Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, with their children. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Their deaths started it all: Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, with their children. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
AJP Taylor was always one of my favourite historians - far more readable than most - and this book is no exception. As the title implies, it is heavier on illustrations than text, but none the worse for that.
Contrary to what some have said, it is not primarily a diatribe against the generals. Taylor may not especially like them (how many do, aside from the late John Terraine?), but his verdict on Haig, in particular, is fair and even generous, especially for the time of writing
"He was a master of railway timetables, deploying divisions as skilfully as any general of his time. His strategical judgements were sound within the framework of the Western front, though he lacked the technical means for carrying them to success until almost the end of the war. - - - Haig had to do what he did, and, though he did not succeed, no one better was found to take his place."
Not a bad epitaph, especially compared to some others Haig has received.
Taylor is tougher on the politicians, who were, after all, in ultimate charge. He records how Joffre had sensibly decided to evacuate Verdun, only to be overruled by Briand. There are many verbal gems, notably his description of the Zimmermann note as "a bright idea such as only a Foreign Office could conceive".
On some points, his prejudices have been toned down, so that emaciated "victims of Allied intervention in Russia" in the first edition became "Victims of civil war in Russia" in the next and finally just "War and famine in Russia" in the paperback. But some still shine through. In particular, Lloyd George is an exception to his low opinion of the political leadership. He hardly has a bad word to say about the man, even swallowing whole his claim (almost certainly false) to have singlehandedly forced the Admiralty to introduce convoys. Taylor also states that American lenders to the Allies would have lost their money had Germany won the war. In fact this was only true of loans made after US entry into the war. The earlier ones were all secured on property in North America, beyond the reach even of a victorious Germany.
All in all, it's a good read but don't rely on it entirely. There are quite a few other histories of WW1 available, so get another to go with this one. But not instead of it. This book would be a great shame to miss.
Contrary to what some have said, it is not primarily a diatribe against the generals. Taylor may not especially like them (how many do, aside from the late John Terraine?), but his verdict on Haig, in particular, is fair and even generous, especially for the time of writing
"He was a master of railway timetables, deploying divisions as skilfully as any general of his time. His strategical judgements were sound within the framework of the Western front, though he lacked the technical means for carrying them to success until almost the end of the war. - - - Haig had to do what he did, and, though he did not succeed, no one better was found to take his place."
Not a bad epitaph, especially compared to some others Haig has received.
Taylor is tougher on the politicians, who were, after all, in ultimate charge. He records how Joffre had sensibly decided to evacuate Verdun, only to be overruled by Briand. There are many verbal gems, notably his description of the Zimmermann note as "a bright idea such as only a Foreign Office could conceive".
On some points, his prejudices have been toned down, so that emaciated "victims of Allied intervention in Russia" in the first edition became "Victims of civil war in Russia" in the next and finally just "War and famine in Russia" in the paperback. But some still shine through. In particular, Lloyd George is an exception to his low opinion of the political leadership. He hardly has a bad word to say about the man, even swallowing whole his claim (almost certainly false) to have singlehandedly forced the Admiralty to introduce convoys. Taylor also states that American lenders to the Allies would have lost their money had Germany won the war. In fact this was only true of loans made after US entry into the war. The earlier ones were all secured on property in North America, beyond the reach even of a victorious Germany.
All in all, it's a good read but don't rely on it entirely. There are quite a few other histories of WW1 available, so get another to go with this one. But not instead of it. This book would be a great shame to miss.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Some strange comments about this. 'The debate has moved on'? In some technical respects, perhaps, but the need to explain how and why 'a whole generation was butchered and damned' has not disappeared.
What nobody seems to have mentioned, though, is that this is not a purpose-written history of WWI; it is made up of excerpts from Taylor's general history of Britain 1914-45, profusely illustrated with photographs of the conflict. It would be foolish, therefore, to expect anything other than a patchy, impressionistic treatment. Nevertheless, this is a perfectly good short introduction to the subject, well-written, with plenty of Taylor's trademark insights. A thousand times better than those cop-out 'histories' so common today, which are no more than bits of primary sources strung together.
What nobody seems to have mentioned, though, is that this is not a purpose-written history of WWI; it is made up of excerpts from Taylor's general history of Britain 1914-45, profusely illustrated with photographs of the conflict. It would be foolish, therefore, to expect anything other than a patchy, impressionistic treatment. Nevertheless, this is a perfectly good short introduction to the subject, well-written, with plenty of Taylor's trademark insights. A thousand times better than those cop-out 'histories' so common today, which are no more than bits of primary sources strung together.
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
AJP Taylor was considered one of the giants of the British historical community. He is the one historian just about every GCSE pupil will have heard of, largely as his works seem to be the most widely quoted in school history text books on the Great War. Which is a shame in a way. Taylor's strength was never in running with the pack. His great strength, a strength that is still present in his works if read today, is that by their controversial nature they stimulated debate. That pretty fairly sums up the appeal of this book. It is a typical product of the 1960s/70s school of Great war historiography. The generals are butchers, the soldiers are dewey eyed, forelock touching innocents sent trotting off to their deaths by unfeeling idiots. The debate has since moved on. Plus, if you are looking for an account of the war in MILITARY terms, this is not the one for you. It's strengths lie in the spheres of social and political history. On the plus side, Taylor's writing style is entertaining and drily witty. The text is enhanced by the addition of a number of photographs scattered throughout the book (many of these include explanatory captions, a further opportunity for Taylor to exercise some rather wry humour. "Lloyd George casts an expert eye over munitions girls"... Well quite.). It is an easy read and very accessible for a Great War novice or younger student. Go into it with your eyes open and take it for what it is - a product of it's times and it's somewhat idiosyncratic author - and there is a lot to be gained from this book. It is an excellent stimulus for debate. Just be sure to read more widely because this gives a very personal and outdated picture. If you only ever read one history of the Great War DON'T make it this one!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good intro but not the last word....
As a history this book will have some limitations - new research, new views on the leadership of the various campaigns (especially Haig,who has had a bit of a improvement in his... Read more
Published 2 months ago by os
Excellent treatment by an excellent writer
AJP Taylor's books, like his lecture when alive, are a lesson to anyone in how to present clearly and simply the most obtuse facts. Read more
Published 9 months ago by D. Coplowe
Kindle version
The narrative in this book is well written, pacy and enjoyable. It is clear that there is opinion (and some humour) in there but that is what makes it readable. Read more
Published 11 months ago by M
Overlooked now - but still a classic
AJP Taylor has fallen out of fashion now amongst academics and readers alike, but his books still show how history can be written: crisply, concisely and not without the odd dash... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jl Adcock
World War 1 History indeed...
A. J. P. Taylor was one of the most acclaimed and controversial historians of the twentieth century. Read more
Published 15 months ago by David I. Howells
Terribly out of date!!!
If I was writing this review back in the late 1960s or 1970s then this book would probably have been given 4 or maybe 5 stars. Read more
Published on 24 April 2005 by N. M. Simner
An excellent, easy to read ,historical perspective
An excellent, easy to read historical perspective accompanied by many outstanding photographs.
I recommend this book to any reader interested in the genus of the first world war... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 1999
Easily readable, maybe a bit cynical
Lot's of good perceptions, maybe a little hyper critical of people's motives. Not shy of exposing mistakes.
Published on 31 Oct 1998
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