Customer Reviews

Over There: The United States in the Great War, 1917-18

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This books is a good introduction or overview of America's involvement in World War I. It's clearly written and not to dense, although I have noticed several editorial errors throughout the text (one paragraph refers to the same person with two different names). I also like that Farwell has included chapters about the home front during the war, giving us an idea of what the rest of America was doing during the war, not just the soldiers. If you're looking for a strictly military history of World War I or a book that goes into a lot of detail about the war, this one isn't for you. Likewise, it doesn't cover much of the three or four years before America entered the war (which is beyond the scope of this book). But it is enjoyable and informative reading that can serve as a springboard for further study of WWI.

"Over There" is an eloquent telling of the story of the American involvement in World War I. It covers all aspects of the American experience including domestic society and politics, army organization and soldier heroism.

In the early parts of the book, Farwell explains the series of German actions which gradually drove an isolationist nation to war. The tug of war, between interventionists such as Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge, and isolationists lead by Sen Robert LaFollette, left Woodrow Wilson in the middle, his actions pleasing to no one. We read of the extreme Anti-German frenzy which arose after the declaration of war. The frenzy manifested itself in drill sergeants who repeated false reports of German atrocities, Billy Sunday's assertion that "If you turned Hell upside down you would find "Made in Germany" on the bottom' and mobs which stoned dashounds. Although Liberty Cabbage and Liberty Pups reverted to Sauerkraut and dashounds, German Shepherds remained Police Dogs and wristwatches, necessitated by uniforms devoid of watch pockets, remained popular.

With the declaration of war the problems turned to mobilization and equipment. One thing which surprised me was the meager American industrial contribution to the war. Where were the railroads and industry which had been so crucial to North victory in the Civil War, the arsenal of Democracy to come in World War II or the creators of cruise missiles and smart bombs? In World War I the U. S. was definitely a supplier of raw man power to use French and British aircraft and artillery.

General Perhsing's struggle to organize and preserve an American Army gets appropriate attention. With the introduction of U. S. Troops into battle the focus shifts to heroes and battles. Eddie Richenbacher, Quintin Roosevelt and Alvin York are just a few of the heroes mentioned. This book is not all praise, however. American shortfalls are reported and Pershing's leadership is critically examined.

Woodrow Wilson is the leader whose performance seemed to alienate almost everyone. To interventionists, including Theodore Roosevelt, Wilson was slow to enter the war, deficient in mobilization and weak in accepting an armistice, rather than demanding unconditional surrender.

This book is readable, enjoyable and informative. I highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in U. S. involvement in World War I.

I listened to the Audio Cassette version of this book. Mr. Farwell provides an overview of the United States' participation in the war from the US's total lack of preparedness in the beginning to the large American Expeditionary Force (AEF) turning the tide at the end of the war.

Farwell spends a lot of time describing President Wilson's effort to manage the war, US troop strength and training, supply problems, the effect of the war on the home front, the difficulty of black soldiers and the view of the war through the eyes of common soldiers and not so common soldiers such as George Patton and Harry Truman.

Along the way, Farwell debunks several commonly held (at least to me) notions about the war, such as: the air war had no strategic effect on the outcome; Germany's U-Boat war caused big problems for US shipping before and during the war; and that the US had to rely on France for guns and Britain to ship the troops to Europe.

John Richmond provides wonderful narration throughout, including French accents where appropriate and providing the proper pronunciations to the French towns and villages.

All in all, a good primer, though not in-depth narration, for how the US fought WWI.

If I did not read this book, I would not have been a history major.

I listened to the Audio Cassette version of this book. Mr. Farwell provides an overview of the United States' participation in the war from the US's total lack of preparedness in the beginning to the large American Expeditionary Force (AEF) turning the tide at the end of the war.

Farwell spends a lot of time describing President Wilson's effort to manage the war, US troop strength and training, supply problems, the effect of the war on the home front, the difficulty of black soldiers and the view of the war through the eyes of common soldiers and not so common soldiers such as George Patton and Harry Truman.

Along the way, Farwell debunks several commonly held (at least to me) notions about the war, such as: the air war had no strategic effect on the outcome; Germany's U-Boat war caused big problems for US shipping before and during the war; and that the US had to rely on France for guns and Britain to ship the troops to Europe.

John Richmond provides wonderful narration throughout, including French accents where appropriate and providing the proper pronunciations to the French towns and villages.

All in all, a good primer, though not in-depth narration, for how the US fought WWI.

Over There cronicles the United States' contribution to allied efforts in World War I, both in Europe and here at home. Farwell's book is well researched and insightful. Especially interesting is Farwell's contention that by not forcing the Germans into a total surrender (as some generals wanted) we set the stage for World War II by allowing the Germans to put their own spin on the war's end. He draws a comparison to our recent decision during the Gulf War not to force Hussein out of power, thus enabling him to continue his antics in the middle east. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in 20th Century history and World War I in particular.

Easy reading about the American contribution to WWI. Nothing fancy, actually just right for somebody like me, learning more about WWI. The author has the gift of clarity in narrative, plain English at its best.

I have always been a Civil War buff, but in order to "expand my historical horizons" I read this book. I had a Great grandfather that fought in the war and I wanted to learn more about it. This book was a wonderful and entertaining book to read. It gives the reader an insight on how the average soldier spent his time during and away from the war. The book focuses on not only the horrors of the war, but it also contains many humerous stories that had me laughing out loud! I sincerely enjoyed this book. Anyone with a curiosity for this time period should read it.

In OVER THERE, Byron Farwell has written an interesting, entertaining survey of America's participation in World War I. In addition to an overview of great events here and in Europe, there are sketches of civilian and military leaders, plus anecdotes about combat and the daily lives of our soldiers in camp and in the trenches. There are chapters on minorities, the U.S. Navy, and on attempts to control venereal diseases. Farwell is especially good on Pershing's efforts to create and maintain a separate American army.

The more demanding reader will, however, find that OVER THERE disappoints in several areas. There are no source notes. These are often scorned as scholarly affectations (though not by Farwell), but even the "general reader" might like to know where the author got his information. Thus, when he states on p. 213 that 1,481 airplanes took part in a certain action, this conflicts with THE WEST POINT ATLAS OF AMERICAN WARS, vol. 2 (Map 68) which makes it 600 airplanes. Without arguing which is the correct figure, Farwell's source for his figure would help. The bibliography is simply inadequate. Relying largely on secondary sources, with a few memoirs and government documents, the author has ignored several basic works on his subject. These include Ferrell's WOODROW WILSON AND WORLD WAR ONE, Robert Cuff's excellent THE WAR INDUSTRIES BOARD, and David Kennedy's essential OVER HERE. Nor does he include a host of other important works by Breen (Council of National Defense), Danbom (farmers), Link (Wilson), Beaver (Newton Baker), and Greenwald (women). He seems not to have consulted government reports by the Council of National Defense, the Food and fuel Administration, and the Office of the Provost Marshal General (on conscription). Consultation of these and many others might have given Farwell's account more perspective. For example, use of Fite & Peterson's OPPONENTS OF WAR, Luebke's BONDS OF LOYALTY, and Preston's ALIENS AND DISSENTERS could have lent greater depth to Farwell's analysis of domestic opposition to American participation in the war.

The book could have been better edited to avoid irritating errors. Thus Mangin's Tenth Army was massed on the western end of the Aisne-Marne salient, not the eastern (West Point Atlas, Map 66). The writing style is uneven and inclined to go off on tangents. We don't need to be reminded quite so often that Pershing failed to capture Pancho Villa in 1917. And the author's remark about George Bush's handling of the Iraq event, however accurate, probably doesn't belong here.

One final matter, quite beyond the author's control: the soldiers on the dust jacket appear to be carrying Enfield rifles. I know many American soldiers did, but the picture implies that the men on the cover could very well be British and not American at all, whch doesn't seem right for such a book.

Farwell's book will serve the general reader who knows little of America's role in World War I and is looking for an easy introduction. Anyone looking for more would be advised to look elsewhere. Those interested in a real challenge should consider Niall Ferguson's controversial THE PITY OF WAR.

Over there is a book that tells you a lot of how United states was unprepared for the war. Although it skips around a lot it is very imformative about what the United States had to do to get their men better prepared for the war, such as where they got all their airplanes and equipment. It tells about how trenches were made. It has a big thing in there about the flu which was very long and poped alot over the chapters of the book.It also talked briefly about some of the battle The United States was involved in and who got the Medal of Honor and how they got it. There was a main part about the different ways they had to control the submarine threat. In many different ways this book was good and bad but over all the book was very good and I recommend reading it.