Rubin shares his lifelong interest in the First World War in these lively essays that examine historical issues in a fresh way. These essays take in a panoramic view of German militarism, the American role in the war, and British and American politics and politicos. They convey the impact of the war on writers and include a critical review of Theodore Roosevelt s life and legacy. Rubin also brings a keen eye for controversy in such matters as the battle of Jutland and Churchill s stance on the war with Hitler.
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Inclined to consult Tolstoy when puzzling over the outbreak of World War I and to ponder Yeats when interpreting the subsequent carnage, Rubin brings to his historical essays an exceptionally literary perspective. That perspective clarifies the turbulent emotions that enveloped soldiers and poets when the great powers of Europe stumbled into cataclysmic conflict in 1914. Literary scholars will particularly value Rubin’s analysis of how the horrors of the Great War shattered writers’ faith in abiding verities and his assessment of the consequent literature of irony and fragmentation. But Rubin repeatedly ventures beyond literary criticism, manifesting exceptional understanding of naval weaponry and tactics, for instance, in weighing competing assertions about the Battle of Jutland and evincing impressive familiarity with political dynamics in challenging revisionist accounts of Churchill’s dealings with Hitler. Some readers may wonder how the theme announced in the subtitle pertains to essays on the maddeningly arrogant Mitford sisters and the surprisingly radical Teddy Roosevelt. But readers will appreciate the penetrating intelligence that informs this essayist’s work, regardless of his topic. --Bryce Christensen
Review
“Rubin has an insightful and polished command of language and history. His eclectic essays deal with a variety of subjects, commencing with a series about World War I, its legacy of horror, its mismanagement by well-meaning but inept leaders, and its rich and varied literature. The reader comes away with a thorough analysis of some of the important books written about the war and why one should read them. The essays are both informative and entertaining. And while they merely offer one person’s thoughts and perspectives of the war, in the hands of Rubin they make for compelling reading.”—Carlo W. D’Este
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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thoughtful, erudite, and analytical collection,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Summer the Archduke Died: Essays on Wars and Warriors (Hardcover)
In 1914, European social order and society was a house of cards needing only the slightest pressure to collapse into chaos. Literary scholar Louis D. Rubin, Jr. (University Distinguished Professor of English, Emeritus, at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill) presents The Summer the Archduke Died: On Wars and Warriors, an anthology of essays discussing the outbreak of World War I in Europe in 1914 and the events of subsequent years. Topics covered include German militarism, America's role in the war, British-American politics, the decline of the British caste system, and an intriguing comparison between the political impact of the Mitford sisters and Violet Bonham Carter, who used her social position to improve the status of women. A thoughtful, erudite, and analytical collection, especially recommended for college library shelves.
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The Summer the Archduke Died, Western Front, World War, Great War, High Seas Fleet, United States, Great Britain, Royal Navy, Grand Fleet, Woodrow Wilson, Winston Churchill, High Tide, Adolf Hitler, Ladies of the English Establishment, Did Churchill, Ruin the Great Work of Time, Nazi Germany, Theodore Roosevelt, Soviet Union, Cold War, Certain Day, The Rules of the Game, Civil War, White House, British Empire Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The Summer the Archduke Died, Western Front, World War, Great War, High Seas Fleet, United States, Great Britain, Royal Navy, Grand Fleet, Woodrow Wilson, Winston Churchill, High Tide, Adolf Hitler, Ladies of the English Establishment, Did Churchill, Ruin the Great Work of Time, Nazi Germany, Theodore Roosevelt, Soviet Union, Cold War, Certain Day, The Rules of the Game, Civil War, White House, British Empire Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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