Product Description

 This new Companion covers one of the most devastating conflicts in modern history.  The Great War traumatised a generation and shaped the whole of the twentieth century. Speaking as loudly as any first-hand account, the facts and figures laid out in this volume reveal the sheer massive destruction caused by the war. Covering all aspects of the conflict from its origins and course to the peace settlements and the crises they generated, Colin Nicolson unravels historical controversies and also considers the social, cultural and economic consequences of the war for the whole of Europe. Containing all the essential facts and figures this Companion will be greatly welcomed by teachers, academics and students alike.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1417143 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

From the Back Cover
The First World War was one of the single most important events of the twentieth century.  Spanning the globe it was both complex in its origins and disastrous in its conclusions, leaving a legacy which would lead ultimately to the even greater destruction of the Second World War. This companion provides a source of accurate information and clear explanation of the issues surrounding the First World War in Europe, including the cultural climate, military campaigns, war aims and peace efforts and the diverse home fronts. The many helpful features of the volume include:* Explanatory maps
* Critical biographies
* Glossary of unfamiliar terms
* Chronologies
* Extensive critical bibliography
* Clear and reader friendly charts and graphs This book is much more than a list of facts: political, social and cultural significance of events are explained clearly, and the reader is made aware of their wider implication and context.  Issues are looked at from the perspective of all the major European countries, showing how the same events can be viewed very differently through the distorting lenses of competing national ambitions, and how the belligerents responded in radically different ways to the challenges of international crisis and total war. Colin Nicolson is Senior Lecturer in History, University of North London.

Customer Reviews

An impressive and highly accessible mine of WWI information
If you are panicking over an imminent assignment, or have a lecture to deliver tomorrow morning, this is definitely the book for you. A mine of information on all aspects of the First World War and its origins, it contains thousands of facts about the War which are easily accessed, placed in context, and cross-referenced to provide a coherent over-view of the military, economic and social history of the period. The book is a masterpiece of compression and succinct analysis. The scope and breadth of it treatment of this vast subject are very impressive. One would need to wade through dozens of inaccessible monographs to access the information presented here, but if you need guidance for further reading, Nicolson provides a detailed and upt-to-date critical bibliography to guide you through the maze.

The sheer range of subjects covered is extraordinary: What does the first performance of Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' tell us about the pre-war mind-set? What was going on in Bosnia or Macedonia berfore the War? What were the terms of the Franco-Russian Alliance, and the Austrian Ultimatum to Serbia? Who was the Austrian ambassador to Russia during the July Crisis of 1914? Why was the German Kaiser cruising on his yacht while Europe descended into chaos? What were the 'Willy-Nicky' conversations? Were Russia or Austria-Hungary prepared for war? How were the Serbs able to defeat Austria? Why was the German war effort so disorganised? In which country did women, factory workers or the Press fare best? How did Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece become involved? Did attempts to end the War amount to anything? Who shot the editor of Le Figaro in the eve of the War? What did Winston Churchill do after he resigned in 1915? Who was Bolo Pasha? What was a 'woolly bear'? Why did the French turn to a 76-year-old journalist to lead them to victory? The answers to all these questions, and many more, can be found in this remarkrable and comprehensive volume.