The Guns of August (Barbara Tuchman)

In The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman deftly describes the first month of WWI.  She begins with the plans Germany, France, and Russia had before the war, and then delves into the implementation of those plans in the first 4-5 weeks of combat, ending just as the battle of the Marne (fought in early September) was beginning.

This book won the Pulitzer for a reason; it's excellent.  Tuchman has a wonderful way with words: from profound truisms cleverly phrased, to succinct statements impressively packed with information, there are a lot of good things here.  Her account highlights the fog of war (with conflicting or no information coming in to commanders), the folly of many involved (insubordinate generals, foolish leaders, naive commanders who see only what they wish), and the exhaustion/horror experienced by soldiers and civilians alike in affected areas.  On the downside, the maps (in the paperback version) are difficult to read, and the author will reference prior historical events (or French phrases) without explanation (or translation).  That aside, this is an excellent, if sobering, read on the outbreak of the first world war that would ultimately cause the second and define the 20th century.

Rating: A