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With Our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918 Paperback – 31 May 2012

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David Stevenson (Author)
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David Stevenson (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 18 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Paperback: 736 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin (31 May 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0141020792
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141020792
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 3.2 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 174,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

It is impossible ... to exaggerate how impressive this book is (David Crane The Spectator)

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

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

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

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)

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

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 (Tony Barber Financial Times)

A magisterial single volume synthesis of all the themes to deliver a punchy, incisive reboot of WW1 history that is never a dull read (Warships International Fleet Review)

An outstanding contribution (Frank Ellis Quarterly Review)

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

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)

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)

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)

About the Author

David Stevenson is a Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and author of the highly praised 1914-1918: The History of the First World War: 'Momentous... this history of the conflict surpasses all others', Independent; 'Superb', Ian Kershaw; 'David Stevenson is the real deal', Niall Ferguson; 'The best comprehensive one-volume history of the war yet written', New Yorker.

Customer Reviews

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA Masterful Analysis.
By Kindle Customer Lee Rogers on 22 Aug. 2011
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.
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4.0 out of 5 starsLogistics
By David B on 17 Jun. 2011
Format: Hardcover
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.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA new history of the last year of the Great War
By Mr. James A. Strachan on 7 July 2011
Format: Hardcover
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.
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5.0 out of 5 starsAn All-Encompassing Perspective.
By SteveN on 26 Dec. 2011
Format: Hardcover
After reading many books on the Great War it is not often that a volume such as this appears which is so thought-provoking and informative. 1918 is still, in many ways, the poor relation in terms of First World War literature but David Stevenson has written a stunning account relating not only the military history of the final year of the conflict, but describing how this was inevitably linked to the total war which matched economy against economy. I could almost hear the creaking as countries strained to overcome their opponents. Not only this, but the political manoeuvring behind the scenes aimed, not only at undermining enemy regimes, but also in promoting national interests with a view to the post-war world, is spelled out clearly. The internal stresses between the Central Powers has been mentioned by other authors before but those relating to the Allies are here given an emphasis which is particularly enlightening. Tremendous.
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5.0 out of 5 starsWarts and all...No stone left unturned etc...stunning.
By Nglaws on 20 Jan. 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
As the title of my review suggests, after reading this book I came away with the belief that there was nothing left to know about how, why and where the Great War ended. I've read altogether well over 50 books on the subject and my facination never falters. While I would recommend a whole host of other authors, from Gary Sheffield, Prior & Wilson, John Terraine, for me the man of the moment on this subject has to be David Stevenson. His grasp of the vastness of the subject has been shown previously in his broader 1914-1918 book, but this really nails down to the detail and full analysis that seems to lack in most other books on the closing stages of the war.
Stevenson covers the actual military aspect rather quickly than most would like but really this is because Germany was only defeated militarilly when all of the other facets that enable nations to survive such a calamity are met and overcome, and sometimes then it is still not clear such as it was in 1918.
For me this is why 1918 is far more interesting than 1945, because of this historical ambiguity and the relative swiftness of the ending after 4 years of stalemate.
Stevenson explains piece by piece how the war affected the social, political, economic, logistical, tactical & technological developments of each warring nation, and right across to the Balkans and also Turkey whose involvement you are able to see in the complete picture of events as they unfold. Some of the details on shipping etc are quite dry to read but its not long before you are brought back to the mayhem of the front line to put it all in context.
This is a must for students and those interested in the subject that want to know detail, its so much more than military history, it should be seen as a bookend on the 1914-1918 conflict to sit there with Tuchman's 'Guns of August' at the other end. Although totally different in their format, they are the best on the years that they cover for different reasons.
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5.0 out of 5 starsSuperb account
By A.J.S. 62 on 13 April 2012
Format: Hardcover
This book is beyond doubt the most detailed Great War work that I have ever read.
It covers every conceivable aspect of the war in 1918 from the point of view of each of the belligerents. A very academic work that shows the immense amount of research and hard work that must have gone into producing what I believe will be essential reading for serious students of the war.
This is not the easiest of books to read, however it will certainly be one that I will dip into again and again.
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5.0 out of 5 starsAn outstanding work about the last year of WWI
By Carrosio Roberto on 5 April 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
At the end of 1917 France and Great Britain were facing a strategical nightmare: their several offensives on the Western Front on 1916-1917 had been just a continuous series of crushing defeats; Russia was out of the war because of the October's Revolution; Italy's Army had just been routed with the loss of her North-eastern provinces; US Army arrival , on the Western Front, was scheduled to be on Spring-Summer 1918, and however it was an untried army for this kind of war.
The author tells you the history of this last year of war that could have bring the victory to the Central Empires and instead, it brought to them a total defeat..
This book take care to talk to you about all the aspects of this war , including the war at sea and its effects on the home fronts.
A wonderful book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsAn excellent read.

Clearly written and engaging style, with enough detail for those with some prior knowledge of the broad subject.

Published 9 months ago by J. P. Attard
5.0 out of 5 starsA masterpiece

This study is a masterpiece. There are masterful essays on the Ludendorff offensives, the war at sea, the leadership of the combatant nations, the home front and on the all... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Mr. A. G. Lewitt
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

good

Published on 17 Sept. 2014 by martin l buckingham
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

great detail good read informitive

Published on 29 Aug. 2014 by Frankieboy
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

again it was very good

Published on 6 July 2014 by Stan T.
5.0 out of 5 starsVery Insightful and unique view

I'm an historian by education and interest, so I've read a lot on the Great War and its origins. The victory of the Allies is usually portrayed in military terms, primarily as a... Read more

Published on 25 Feb. 2014 by TimintheMatrix
5.0 out of 5 starsNear Disaster

It is amazing how wars are won. The production of ammunition and explosives was a fantastic feat. In the end I think it was incompetent generals that lost the war and possibly... Read more

Published on 17 May 2013 by Richard Fennell
5.0 out of 5 starsMasterful and coherent analysis

This is a really well put together account account. Having just fiished it I re-read the first and last chapters again, as these can stand alone. Read more

Published on 4 Feb. 2013 by Jon Hodgkinson
3.0 out of 5 starsGreat book----for two thirds!

With Our Backs to the Wall is a profound and scholarly study of the final throes of WW1. Researched in depth with a myriad of statistics, it's of a different genre to a good number... Read more

Published on 9 Oct. 2012 by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsTour de Force

The depth of research behind this book is a credit to the author. But to have converted that information into such a readable and intelligible book is to my mind the mark of an... Read more

Published on 18 Sept. 2012 by ephgrave7

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