With Our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918: Amazon.co.uk: David Stevenson: Books

Review

A magnificent and exhaustive account of the war's final year ... Stevenson has a deserved reputation as one of the world's leading authorities on the war ... Drawing on numerous original sources in French, German, Italian and English, Stevenson displays masterly scholarship and his prose is crisp and vivid throughout ... [With Our Backs to the Wall] promises to be the outstanding military history published in 2011 (Tony Barber Financial Times )

This is a familiar enough story, but it can never have been so authoritatively told as it is here. It is impossible, in fact, to exaggerate how impressive this book is ... A grasp of issues and a mastery of detail that builds into an irrefutable analysis of not just why the war was won and lost, but why both sides were prepared to end it when they did (David Crane The Spectator )

Stevenson brings to his study a formidable authority and mastery of the sources, and judgments that seem admirably measured and nuanced (Max Hastings Sunday Times )

Brilliant and comprehensive ... a major contribution (A. W. Purdue Times Higher Education )

An immensely useful study, emphasising the crucial importance of morale, political stability and trust (Max Egremont Literary Review )

Wide-ranging and clearly argued ... This is, as one would expect from a historian of Stevenson's great learning and analytical power, a masterly study (The Sunday Telegraph )

The strength of the book lies in his ability to weave together astute analysis of the antagonists' abilities and weaknesses ... Told with verve and analytical vigour, Stevenson's book is a compelling and authoritative study of one of the most significant turning points in 20th-century military history (Robert Gerwath The Irish Times )

What David Stevenson achieves is a magisterial single volume synthesis of all the themes to deliver a punchy, incisive reboot of WW1 history that is never a dull read ... In saluting the unsung elements of victory, Stevenson ensures his big themes book is myth-busting in its small detail, too (Warships International Fleet Review )

An outstanding contribution ... Stevenson analyses in great depth and detail the reasons why the Western Allies, having survived in a series of disasters, were able finally to turn the table on the Central Powers, effectively Germany, in 1918 (Frank Ellis Quarterly Review )

A monumental study deserving of a wide readership by scholars and generalists alike (Library Journal )

A fascinating military narrative ... masterly (William Anthony Hay Wall Street Journal )

Stevenson's detailed, lucid description of the development and maturation of that ability reflects encyclopedic mastery of published and archival sources while synergizing military, economic, political, and social-cultural factors. It is a professor's page-turner. It is also a door-opener to any reader seeking to understand the Great War's last stage (Publishers Weekly )

Stevenson's grand scope, his international perspective, and his reliable judgements, combined with crystal-clear writing, have produced an exemplary book, a formidable contribution to our understanding of the Great War and the twentieth century (English Historical Review )

Review

A magnificent and exhaustive account of the war's final year ... Stevenson has a deserved reputation as one of the world's leading authorities on the war ... Drawing on numerous original sources in French, German, Italian and English, Stevenson displays masterly scholarship and his prose is crisp and vivid throughout ... [With Our Backs to the Wall] promises to be the outstanding military history published in 2011 -- Tony Barber Financial Times This is a familiar enough story, but it can never have been so authoritatively told as it is here. It is impossible, in fact, to exaggerate how impressive this book is ... A grasp of issues and a mastery of detail that builds into an irrefutable analysis of not just why the war was won and lost, but why both sides were prepared to end it when they did -- David Crane The Spectator Stevenson brings to his study a formidable authority and mastery of the sources, and judgments that seem admirably measured and nuanced -- Max Hastings Sunday Times Brilliant and comprehensive ... a major contribution -- A. W. Purdue Times Higher Education An immensely useful study, emphasising the crucial importance of morale, political stability and trust -- Max Egremont Literary Review Wide-ranging and clearly argued ... This is, as one would expect from a historian of Stevenson's great learning and analytical power, a masterly study The Sunday Telegraph The strength of the book lies in his ability to weave together astute analysis of the antagonists' abilities and weaknesses ... Told with verve and analytical vigour, Stevenson's book is a compelling and authoritative study of one of the most significant turning points in 20th-century military history -- Robert Gerwath The Irish Times What David Stevenson achieves is a magisterial single volume synthesis of all the themes to deliver a punchy, incisive reboot of WW1 history that is never a dull read ... In saluting the unsung elements of victory, Stevenson ensures his big themes book is myth-busting in its small detail, too Warships International Fleet Review An outstanding contribution ... Stevenson analyses in great depth and detail the reasons why the Western Allies, having survived in a series of disasters, were able finally to turn the table on the Central Powers, effectively Germany, in 1918 -- Frank Ellis Quarterly Review A monumental study deserving of a wide readership by scholars and generalists alike Library Journal A fascinating military narrative ... masterly -- William Anthony Hay Wall Street Journal Stevenson's detailed, lucid description of the development and maturation of that ability reflects encyclopedic mastery of published and archival sources while synergizing military, economic, political, and social-cultural factors. It is a professor's page-turner. It is also a door-opener to any reader seeking to understand the Great War's last stage Publishers Weekly Stevenson's grand scope, his international perspective, and his reliable judgements, combined with crystal-clear writing, have produced an exemplary book, a formidable contribution to our understanding of the Great War and the twentieth century English Historical Review

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

6 reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars

Write a customer review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

A Masterful Analysis. 22 Aug 2011

By leerog

Format:Hardcover

For those who are familiar with 1914-1918: The History of the First World WarStevenson's book on the last year of the First World War is another example of this historian's scholarship and research. The subject-matter had been well-trawled by almost every writer on this period. But what sets this book apart is the treatment that he gives to other aspects of the war such as the economy,the home fronts and the human factor which underpin the war. This is not another re-hash of the well-worn battles; this is a sensitive and scholarly analysis of the subject and wins a deserving place in the historiography of the First World War. 1918 was certainly a turning-point in the history of the world, and Stevenson explains why.
Excellent.

1 Comment |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

A new history of the last year of the Great War 7 July 2011

By Mr. James A. Strachan

This book has joined my small library of books on the Great War.

There are some military accounts - particularly the more recent revisionist histories that emphasise the difficulties that the generals faced in commanding and winning battles, and their flexibility in adopting new solutions.

This book is different.

The first third gives an overview of the fighting during 1918.

The rest of the book analyses the technical, economic and political background that stood behind the military effort.

Highly recommended for this detailed analysis.

Comment |

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful

Logistics 17 Jun 2011

By David B

This book has changed my perspective of the First Worl War.
It brought home to me the enormous scale of logistical problems. The movements of divisions by sea, by rail, the importance of rivers and canals and the part played by tanks and aircraft, much greater thaan I had imagined.