Great War, The: 1914 - 1918

Rating:
Summary: Great Reference Book for The Seemingly "forgotten" War
Review: Ian F.W. Beckett does a profoundly good job of creating a reference book on the great war. The subjects included are in-depth and are a great learning and resource tool. I would recommend this book to anyone in need of a good reference for World War I.

Rating:
Summary: Kitchen sink
Review: The word that best describes Ian F.W. Beckett's The Great War 1914-1918 is thorough. He covers every possible aspect of the war, from its campaigns to political intrigue to labor movements to cultural impact. Unlike standard histories organized in a linear mode, which emphasize chronological sequence, Beckett deliberately chose to concentrate each chapter on a particular theme, and developed that focus from pre-war to post-war when pertinent. In situations when consensus among historians is lacking, he fully explains the conflicting views and identifies their respective proponents.

While the reading is sometimes dry, as is the case with most histories, this book is jam packed with information. Copious notes at the end of each chapter point the way to more detailed investigation for those interested.