An Illustrated History of the First World War

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended - although shop for low prices
Review: This is a very impressive coffee-table volume suitable for browsing or also as a great cover-to-cover read. The book does a great job of setting up the brewing tensions in 1914 that caused pandemonium on all sides. I have long read legions of works on WWII but have not read much on the first war beyond standard accounts such as "All Quiet on the Western Front." For a beginning study of WWI history this book is great, and the reader can clearly grasp all the issues and see how the same causes directly to the even greater pandemonioum of WWII. As the book progresses into accounts of the combat on the various fronts, the writing gets a little plodding to follow at times. But it is still accessible. The maps and photographs are first-rate and quite impressive. There are also numerous insets with brief sidebars on topics such as propaganda posters, women in the factories, etc., that allow the book to serve as a genuine coffee-table book that someone can just pick up for twenty minutes.
This is the type of expensive book that makes it worthwhile to join a low-committment book club such as History Book Club, where you get 4 or 5 books for $1 each and agree to buy one more at regular price and then just cancel. You can generally find enough excellent expensive books like this that can count as only one choice for the introductory $1 and make it well worthwhile to join, rather than shelling out $35 - $50.

Rating:
Summary: This Book Rules
Review: This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to know the details of The Great War. It has a nonstop plethora of pictures which take you through the entire war from the assassination of the Archduke to final day of fighting. The book can be very detailed, describing or showing troop movements, horrific battle conditions, and casualty reports. None of the major battles are overlooked. Mention is also made to the fact that most countries were unprepared for 20th century warfare. Major personalities are profiled in special pages of the book including the famous Red Baron. Not limited to just Europe, Keegan describes the war elsewhere in the world including Africa and in the Pacific theatre. War in the air is discussed including a special section on dirigibles and airplanes. A must read for the serious student of WW I.