Customer Reviews

Western Front

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Richard Holmes has written a no-nonsense concise guide to both World War I and the controversial historiography that has dogged the conflict ever since. He summarizes the events of the Western Front (only--other theaters are mentioned only as they impact Germany's decisions about force allocation) quickly, perhaps too quickly for my taste. He slows down a little bit when reviewing the major controversies from the war over tactics, strategy, and war guilt, where he examines the different schools of thought with an even hand. Sometimes his hand is too even: on some topics, particularly when discussing the question of why trench warfare degenerated into such bloody, futile slaughter, I wanted Holmes to be bolder in naming names.

But these are petty disagreements with what is a very successful attempt to summarize the events on the Western Front. I hope Holmes will someday give other theaters similar treatment.

I checked this book out from our local library a few years back not expecting much from it. With 'TV Books' I though it would come up short concerning its coverage of WWI.

But to my great surprise this book was an interesting read. The maps and photographs blend with Holmes' narrative to give the reader a very comprehensive offering of WWI. Nothing superficial here! I liked it so much that later when in a larger area bookstore, purchased a copy for myself.

While I have no real, serious critique to offer concerning this book, I do feel the photographs illustrate more the British and Austrailian efforts in the Great War. But rather than be set back by this I am pleased because most WWI books I own or have read concentrate mostly on the 'doughboys.'

Not an expert on this, did minor in history in college. However, it is just beyond me how any reasonable reader could not enjoy this fairly comprehensive book on WWI.

This book deals with the war from the Allied and German side as it was fought on the Western Front. I found it very interesting and full of details on the weapons, tactics and SANFUS that each side comitted. It expalined how the Germans were able to over come the stagnation of trench warfare with new infiltration tactics while the Allies continued with bloody wave attacks that gained no ground. Eventually the British blockade of Germany, the US entery into the war and the tank lead to the defeat of the Central Powers. If you are interested in a fast paced descriptive view of tactics as practiced on the Western Front then read this book.

i'm not an expert on to the western front, but this book allowed me to have a very good historycal and military picture of the events on the western front. for me this is an excellent briefing for further readings into more detailed section/ops on this front.

A book that adds little to historical knowledge, or the reputation of the author for that matter. I wonder why the editor will let it go to press at all.

THis should not be a book, but some sort of a College study, nothing more than that! It's boring, unconclusive, adds nothing new to the reade acostumed with WW I literature !!!