World War I (1914-1918) was a conflict the likes of which the world had never before seen. Trench warfare, poison gas, machine guns, aircraft . . . new technologies and techniques led to unprecedented slaughter and devastation. Empires fell, over 15 million died, and the legacy resulted in the rise of authoritarian and extremist regimes that ultimately led the world to do it all over again in World War II some 20 years later. This truly global conflict is summarized well in World War I: The Definitive Visual History.
As the name implies, this visual history is rife with maps, photos, illustrations, and other visual aids in addition to text explaining the origin, progress, and outcome of the conflict. Each topic is granted 2 pages- battles, biographies of key personalities, technologies, and other things are summarized well. All aspects are covered- the western and eastern fronts, the Balkan battles, Middle East and Africa conflicts, and related events (like the Russian revolution) that had a direct (or indirect) bearing on the outcome. Organized chronologically (and thus bouncing around the different fronts), each page has a brief "before" and "after" snippet with corresponding page numbers for those interested in following only one front or aspect of the war. Because of the format, the narrative wasn't as cohesive as other texts, but rather fragmented and 'choppy.' But the comprehensive nature of the event makes cohesion difficult, and some degree of 'hopping' seems necessary to appreciate the breadth of topics. Overall, this is a great summary and reference for those interested in World War I.
Rating: A
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