Voices from the Great War by Peter Vansittart ISBN: 0531098117
Published by Franklin Watts on January 1st 1984
Genres: World War I, Diplomacy and Politics, Personal Accounts, Youth-accessible
Pages: 303
Len's Summary: Tells the story of the war with an eclectic compilation of literary and political quotes, headlines, and statistics.
The Guns of August
The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman, Robert K. Massie ISBN: 0345476093
Published by Ballantine Books on August 3rd 2004
Genres: World War I, Battle History, Diplomacy and Politics
Pages: 606
Len's Summary: Covers the opening stages and the roots of the conflict; superb, but read a general history first for orientation.
Tannenberg: Clash of Empires 1914
Tannenberg: Clash of Empires 1914 by Dennis E. Showalter ISBN: 1574887815
Published by Potomac Books on April 1st 2004
Genres: World War I, Battle History, Diplomacy and Politics
Pages: 432
Len's Summary: 1914 on the Eastern Front. Especially good on the evolution of the German-Russian rivalry.
Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I
Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I by Michael S. Neiberg ISBN: 067472593X
Published by Belknap Press on October 14th 2013
Genres: World War I, Diplomacy and Politics, Personal Accounts
Pages: 292
Len's Summary: A fresh look at how the outbreak of war was experienced the citizens of all the participating nations. -- Nobody wanted war, but Neiberg shows how it came to pass drawing on the writings of European and American diplomats, politicians and informed observers. The author is a winner of the WFA’s Tomlinson Book Prize.
The First Day on the Somme
The First Day on the Somme by Martin Middlebrook ISBN: 1844154653
Published by Pen & Sword Books on March 1st 2003
Genres: World War I, Diplomacy and Politics, Personal Memoirs
Pages: 365
Len's Summary: Ground-breaking work that shows the human tragedy of the disastrous attack of the British Army on July 1, 1916.
Nicholas and Alexandra
Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie ISBN: 0345438310
Published by Random House Trade Paperbacks on February 1st 2000
Genres: Diplomacy and Politics, Personal Memoirs
Pages: 640
Len's Summary: Highly readable account of the fall of the Romanov dynasty.
Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World
Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan, Richard Holbrooke ISBN: 0375760520
Published by Random House Trade Paperbacks on September 9th 2003
Genres: World War I, Diplomacy and Politics, Personal Memoirs
Pages: 570
Len's Summary: A thorough, scholarly analysis of what transpired at the Paris peace conference.
The Origins of World War I
The Origins of World War I by Richard F. Hamilton, Holger H. Herwig ISBN: 0521102189
Published by Cambridge University Press on December 11th 2008
Genres: World War I
Pages: 552
Len's Summary: Summary examination of the motivations of the leadership of 12 major and minor powers in going to war. // An abridged version of the collection of essays published by Cambridge as The Origins of World War I and edited by the same scholars. This version concentrates on the handful of men who made the decisions for war. The abridgement is even more readable than the original. The authors cut through the fog of nationalism and ex post facto justifications to the roots of the conflict. Affordable and highly recommended.
The War to End All Wars
The War to End All Wars: The American Military Experience in World War I by Edward M. Coffman ISBN: 0813109558
Published by University Press of Kentucky on July 23rd 1998
Genres: World War I, Battle History, Diplomacy and Politics
Pages: 440
Len's Summary: Still the best summary of America’s experience in the Great War.
The World Crisis: An Abridgement
The World Crisis: An Abridgement of the Classic Four-Volume History of World War I by Winston S. Churchill ISBN: 0684194538
Published by Scribner on November 24th 1992
Genres: World War I, Personal Memoirs, Battle History, Diplomacy and Politics
Pages: 864
Len's Summary: Masterful grand survey of the War; obviously strongly British in outlook; very good on naval matters.
The German High Command at War
The German High Command at War by Robert Asprey ISBN: 9780595365654
Published by iUniverse on November 9th 2005
Genres: Germany, World War I, Battle History, Diplomacy and Politics
Pages: 558
Len's Summary: Looks at military operations from a German viewpoint; humanizes their military establishment and the Kaiser without justifying their actions. Good discussions of the Eastern Front.
AMERICAN HERITAGE HISTORY OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
American Heritage History of World War I by S.L.A. Marshall ISBN: 9781612308067
Published by New Word City on September 5th 2014
Genres: World War I, Battle History, Diplomacy and Politics, Illustrated, Maps, Youth-accessible
Pages: 705
Len's Summary: A comprehensive history that’s well illustrated and contains helpful maps plus commentary by a distinguished historian; good for starting.
President’s Quarterly Update—April 2024
Dear Members and Friends,
I’m extremely pleased with the level of WW1HA’s activities, some of which may be unseen by you.
Our Journal, “World War One Illustrated,” is now published three times a year with an average length of 48 pages. Each issue is filled with high-quality articles covering a variety of topics, including the popular “My Kin in the Great War” series.
Our electronic newsletter, “Here and There with the WW1HA” is published monthly, with an assortment of Association events and articles covering WW1 topics.
Sal Compagno’s San Francisco Bay Area Chapter continues to hold monthly meetings via Zoom, while Mark Benbow’s Eastern Chapter is holding quarterly meetings.
As President, I am also hosting a quarterly “Fireside Chat” online. The last one emphasized WW1 poetry. The next one will emphasize WW1-era music.
If you’re already a member, I thank you for your membership and encourage you to take part in these activities. If you’re not a member, I ask you to join and participate in these activities. Participate in the events and consider submitting an article for the journal or newsletter.
Reach out to me with your comments: lavarennes@meuse-argonne.com.
Regards,
Randy Gaulke
