Kindle
$9.99
Available instantly
Prime Exclusive Deal
-28% $7.19
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$7.19 with 28 percent savings
List Price: $9.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
This deal is exclusively for Amazon Prime members.
Cancel anytime
Already a member? Sign in
$9.99
FREE International Returns
Delivery Tuesday, July 30
Or fastest delivery Wednesday, July 17. Order within 19 hrs 43 mins
In Stock
$$7.19 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$7.19
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$7.49
FREE International Returns
This item shows wear including moderate wear to edges and cover. This item shows wear including moderate wear to edges and cover. See less
Delivery Tuesday, July 30. Order within 4 hrs 13 mins
Or fastest delivery Monday, July 22
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$7.19 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$7.19
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Similar items shipping to Finland
FI
Finland
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Guns of August: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Classic About the Outbreak of World War I Mass Market Paperback – August 3, 2004

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 7,617 ratings

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • “A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill’s statement that the first month of World War I was ‘a drama never surpassed.’”—Newsweek
 
Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time

In this landmark account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable clash. And inevitable it was, with all sides plotting their war for a generation. Dizzyingly comprehensive and spectacularly portrayed with her famous talent for evoking the characters of the war’s key players, Tuchman’s magnum opus is a classic for the ages.
 
The Proud Tower, the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Guns of August, and The Zimmermann Telegram comprise Barbara W. Tuchman’s classic histories of the First World War era

Get to know this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill’s statement that the first month of World War I was ‘a drama never surpassed.’”Newsweek
 
“More dramatic than fiction . . . a magnificent narrative—beautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained.”
Chicago Tribune
 
“A fine demonstration that with sufficient art rather specialized history can be raised to the level of literature.”
The New York Times
 
“[
The Guns of August] has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues, which are considerable, and its feel for characterizations, which is excellent.”The Wall Street Journal

About the Author

Barbara W. Tuchman (1912–1989) achieved prominence as a historian with The Zimmermann Telegram and international fame with The Guns of August—a huge bestseller and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Her other works include Bible and Sword, The Proud Tower, Stilwell and the American Experience in China (for which Tuchman was awarded a second Pulitzer Prize), Notes from China, A Distant Mirror, Practicing History, The March of Folly, and The First Salute.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Presidio Press (August 3, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 640 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0345476093
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0345476098
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1350L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.2 x 1.02 x 6.83 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 7,617 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Barbara Wertheim Tuchman
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Barbara Wertheim Tuchman (/ˈtʌkmən/; January 30, 1912 – February 6, 1989) was an American historian and author. She won the Pulitzer Prize twice, for The Guns of August (1962), a best-selling history of the prelude to and the first month of World War I, and Stilwell and the American Experience in China (1971), a biography of General Joseph Stilwell.

Tuchman focused on writing popular history.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
7,617 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the writing quality highly competent and easy to learn from. They also appreciate the monumental job of research and interpretation. Readers describe the historical setting as fascinating, fresh, and timely. They appreciate the vivid insights into the personalities of protagonists. They describe the writing style as refreshingly terse and witty. However, some find the book boring, senseless, and lacking in maps.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

530 customers mention "Writing quality"426 positive104 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book highly competent, remarkably detailed, and superb. They also say the story-telling is vivid and easy to learn from.

"...What I did love though was the sweep of the story as well as the many details that go into waging a war...." Read more

"Long book , but easy to read. Incredible details. Well researched." Read more

"...when a book such as this, extensively researched, and written in the highly competent way in which the very able Barbara W. Tuchman does, it is a..." Read more

"...The Guns of August is a fast paced engaging story that will hook any history lover...." Read more

334 customers mention "Comprehensiveness"334 positive0 negative

Customers find the book comprehensive, revealing details, and well-indexed. They also say the prose is enthralling and paints a naturalistic portrait of the causes and the fighting. Readers say the book is one of the best sources for understanding the causes, movements, and mismanagement of large groups of men on the Western Front.

"...It's all true, and all documented, and even though it's a dense read, the huge cast of characters springs to life...." Read more

"Long book , but easy to read. Incredible details. Well researched." Read more

"...reading this book, and that was that when a book such as this, extensively researched, and written in the highly competent way in which the very..." Read more

"...One of the interesting features of the book was the brief introductions of the various players...." Read more

247 customers mention "Historical setting"239 positive8 negative

Customers find the historical setting fascinating, exciting, and fresh. They also say the author does a marvelous job putting together the events that lead up to this point in time. Readers also say that the book is able to portray cataclysmic events on a grand scale.

"Written in 1962, this is a fascinating history of the beginnings of WW1 and is the result of a vast amount of research...." Read more

"...This is a great read for any historian or reader who seeks to understand history!" Read more

"This is a supreme piece of historical writing as many others have said and I thoroughly recommend it, and give it five-stars on that basis...." Read more

"...The minute I picked up the book, I was fascinated by the new perspective and new insights it contains on those events...." Read more

45 customers mention "Characterization"41 positive4 negative

Customers find the characterization fascinating and vivid, giving insights into the personalities of the protagonists.

"...documented, and even though it's a dense read, the huge cast of characters springs to life...." Read more

"...The story-telling is superb, the principal characters are vividly recreated...." Read more

"Exceedingly detailed and researched, the reader senses the characters' fear and indecision as they endure the first 45 days of WW I. Reading such..." Read more

"...Babara Tuchman wrote with the elan of a novelist, recreating historical figures so well they seem like familiar characters, even the most obscure...." Read more

42 customers mention "Writing style"32 positive10 negative

Customers find the writing style refreshingly terse and witty. They also appreciate the pithy comments throughout the book. Customers also say the title is quite literal and the non-English accents are great. They say the book flows flawlessly.

"...Ms. Tuchman also had a sense of irony and humor and sometimes I found myself laughing out loud...." Read more

"...The title is quite literal...." Read more

"...prose style which is transparently clear, intelligent, controlled and witty". Perhaps witty, but to this reader not always transparently clear...." Read more

"Maybe it's a bit unfair, but this book's analysis is not holding well as we get a better and better understanding of the entirety of this..." Read more

27 customers mention "Pacing"18 positive9 negative

Customers are mixed about the pacing. Some find the book fast and exciting, while others say it plods along at a fairly slow pace.

"...The book kept illustrating that, in war, timing is critical. The German plan was for a short war...." Read more

"...for this; her narration just becomes choppy/jerky and unlistenable at the one slow speed...." Read more

"...Nonetheless the story moved swiftly and its readers will be well served by its scholarly review and documentation...." Read more

"...Although comprehensive and remarkably detailed, this is a swift and exciting drama that draws the reader into a cyclone of actions and personalities..." Read more

57 customers mention "Informativeness"8 positive49 negative

Customers find the book contains so many details without apparent reason that it gets boring pretty quickly. They also say it runs together and has not much of a story to follow. They find it pretentious and boring, saying it's an excruciatingly detailed military history. Customers also say the war was senseless and annoying.

"...The entire escapade is rife with ineptitude, endless bickering among generals, confirmation bias, throwing good money after bad, and examples of..." Read more

"...I felt completely violated and defrauded that the battle itself was not described in detail. Was this Barbara a lady or a tease?..." Read more

"...Most problematic, there was simply too much detail, it was hard often to see any clear theme being drawn, like a pointillist version of a Pollack..." Read more

"...If there is a criticism to be made, it is that the story may be too "good" to be believed...." Read more

27 customers mention "Maps"3 positive24 negative

Customers find the maps in the book very poor, useless without zooming, and confusing. They also say the maps lack contrast and are awkward to read.

"...I recommend against the Guns paperback edition. The reprint of maps is terrible...." Read more

"...Secondly the maps are almost illegible with no discernible difference in shading of different armies, and two-page maps with the important areas..." Read more

"...maps are the exception: they suffer from the inclusion of confusing topographic features, and a lack of contrast due to their being rendered in..." Read more

"...There were several weaknesses, however. There were not enough maps, and what maps there were (I had an old used hardcover copy) were very hard to..." Read more

Critical First Month of WWI
5 Stars
Critical First Month of WWI
Author Barbara W. Tuchman was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1963 for The Guns of August. Fifty-five years later her book remains one of the best sources for understanding the prelude and first thirty days of what would become known as the Great War.We are all familiar with the horrors of World War I - trench warfare, the ebb and flow of Allied and German advances across no man's land using outdated tactics in the face of barbed wire, withering fire from machine guns and heavy artillery, and the inhuman use of mustard gas. Combat related casualty figures were a staggering 8.5 million killed and 21 million wounded. Civilian casualties exceeded six million from food shortages, malnutrition, and disease. The ensuing influenza epidemic of 1918-1919 even exceeded these figures with an estimated fifty million deaths worldwide.How this conflagration began is the subject of Tuchman's book. It suspends what the reader already knows about the war to focus on its genesis. Historians point to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand as the event that lead to four years of slaughter, but this was but the excuse to launch the German Army (700,000 men) through neutral Belgium toward Paris. The Germans had put together a timetable for victory known as the Shclieffen plan that they began executing August 4, 1914. The two front battle plan had been developed and proposed by the chief of the German general staff as far back as 1905.The French also had developed a plan to counter the German attack which was known as Plan XVII. Rather than rely on defense it envisioned a bold strike into the heart of Germany to recapture the territories of Alsace and Lorraine that had been lost in the Franco-Prussian War. It relied heavily on French courage rather than sound tactics. Mounted cavalry attacks and bayonet charges failed to take into account how warfare had changed.The first twelve days of the war came to be known as the Battle of the Frontier. During this period it was all but certain that Germany would prevail. The next eighteen days would become known as the Miracle on the Marne with retreating allied forces regrouping and turning the tide. However, German forces had penetrated so deeply toward Paris that the war would drag on for four more years.Tuchman recounts the momentous decisions that lead to the stalemate and the military commanders behind them. It is a testament to her ability to fully humanize these historical persons that we find ourselves fully immersed in the times and events, and learn what really happened as well as what it felt like for the people involved.This is a great read for any historian or reader who seeks to understand history!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2003
Written in 1962, this is a fascinating history of the beginnings of WW1 and is the result of a vast amount of research. It's all true, and all documented, and even though it's a dense read, the huge cast of characters springs to life. This is the story of a war that changed the course of history. And it's also a story of the men who make the war. The reader gets to see the blunders and the madness and the personal feuds. And the humanity of the imperfect human beings who make the decisions that result in slaughter.
There are maps in the book describing the battles. There are also photographs. But I must admit that I barely looked at the maps. And I found all the photos of the elderly generals very similar. What I did love though was the sweep of the story as well as the many details that go into waging a war. Previously, most war books I've read had to do with the experience of the soldiers. But this book is about the experience of making decisions, often based on folly. And it opened my eyes to how vulnerable the ordinary person is to the whims of the generals and the forces of pure chance. Ms. Tuchman also had a sense of irony and humor and sometimes I found myself laughing out loud.
The narrative of the month of August 1914 is described hour by hour. Belgium has to make a decision to accept an awful defeat or willingly allow the Germans to march through their neutral territory. There are alliances in place that are just waiting to be broken. The Russians come into the war. So do the British, even though it is with much reluctance. The basic war is between France and Germany, almost a continuation of the defeat the French suffered at the hands of the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.
Before I read this book, I didn't know much about WW1. Now I do. It was a war that defined the breakdown of the European nobility and set the stage for the next war, which was even more horrific. It taught me a lot, especially about how many people wind up dying because of the quest for power. It saddened me too because this quest for power is basic. So is the folly of mankind. The only thing that has changed is technology.
This book is a masterful work. It lays the groundwork for an understanding of the mechanics of war. I might not remember all of the names of the generals or the battle plans. But I will always remember the feeling of being right there, watching the decisions being made, marching for miles in spite of fatigue, handling the big guns, making courageous decisions that sometimes led to disaster. And, especially, knowing that this is the true face of war. Highly recommended.
446 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2024
Long book , but easy to read. Incredible details. Well researched.
2 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2014
This book is written on an epic scale. Is like a big board game where all the armies are directed by their leaders. I found out something I was not fully aware of by reading this book, and that was that when a book such as this, extensively researched, and written in the highly competent way in which the very able Barbara W. Tuchman does, it is a serious endeavor to immerse in the pages, and unless one is an avid historian or student of the war, the book might prove a little too tedious to enjoy. There is a big difference between a book such as this, where the story is told from war rooms in the many countries that took part, and the other kind where it goes down to the fighting men level, where one feels their pain and their struggles on the battlefield.
The Guns of August is a powerful book never the less, in that is describing the first month of World War 1, but it does it at a higher level of command, not that tragedies and juicy tidbits are not to be found, it is still a sublime effort that deserved the author the Pulitzer Prize, but I had no connection with it in an emotional way, like I have had with incredible books about war I read lately, Flags of our Fathers being a clear example of what I am trying to say, which is without a doubt, one of the finest books I have read on the subject of war, and another clear example of the what the Marines mean to this country. The Guns of August is more like a global approach with the machinations of the generals and leaders, as they deployed their forces to accomplish their strategic plans that will lead them to victory. For those who are studious enough I am sure this powerhouse of a book would be very fulfilling. On the other hand, for those who prefer a more personal approach on a well written book, then this title would not deliver that. 4 Stars.
2 people found this helpful
Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Detaile Review Of The Start Of The War
Reviewed in Canada on June 14, 2024
It was well written. I struggled keeping the names straight and the country the people represented. However, that was my issue and not the fault of the book. It really shows that elderly aristocratic leaders had no clue about the realities of war, nor concern for the fighting men.
Ayrton Jr
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom
Reviewed in Brazil on March 5, 2023
Um excelente livro que retrata passo-a-passo os primeiros e decisivos dias da primeira guerra. Sem adentrar na cruenta e sanguinária "guerra de trincheiras", esse livro foca nos motivos que levaram aos acontecimentos do primeiro conflito mundial.
PSV
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
Reviewed in Mexico on October 24, 2022
Como todas las obras de Barbara, extraordinariamente bien documentado. Tal vez su mejor libro. Al menos de los que he leído.
FJ LOPEZ DE ARENOSA
5.0 out of 5 stars el detalle y la política
Reviewed in Spain on March 18, 2024
Vine a este libro desde la historia de la crisis de los misiles de Cuba de Max Hastings, este fué el libro que R.Kenedy regaló a McMillan antes de la crisis y que ilustra la relación entre políticos y militares y la subordinación de unos a otros. En este caso son los militares los que llevaron desgraciadamente la voz cantante. Muy interesante y de una cuestión de mucha actualidad siempre.
sgh100
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting read, learned a lot
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2021
As other reviews, both on Amazon and elsewhere, have said, this is an amazing book.

While it is very much "non-fiction" and, in many ways, "a history book", it is very well written, and very readable. Some of the sentences / paragraphs are incredibly well crafted, and you'll probably learn some new words along the way e.g. tatterdemalion. I loved that one.

The level / depth of research behind this book is phenomenal, and to think this 500 pages + represents only the first month of a 4 yrs + war.

For me, it has done a few things.

First, I feel much more informed about the reasons for the onset of WW1. I had previously heard that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the most important cause for the start of WW1, but I now know that was really only a part of the story. This book outlines the extent to which Germany had been "planning" war, and talking about extending its reach/influence through war, for many years before 1914. I personally had no idea that this was such an important factor or so openly discussed in Germany prior to the war. It also makes an important connection back to a war in 1870, which isn't covered in detail but is clearly a major factor.

Second, I now feel better informed about the role Britain played at the start of the war or, to be more precise, the role it didn't play in that first month. As a nation we're brought-up to think we played a huge role in both world wars and, while this isn't disputed as a whole, it seems we didn't entirely cover ourselves in glory in that first month (notwithstanding the fact that we did send thousands of troops, when no other core European nation did, with the exception of Russia).

Third, I wasn't really clear how Belgium came into being, and I'm now much clearer on that. I also have a renewed respect for Belgium and the way they stood-up to the initial invasion, in the face of certain defeat, in 1914. Inspiring stuff.

Finally, it has reinforced the importance of communication, relationships and trust in any large-scale human endeavour. That these were, in large parts at least, missing on the Allied side in the first month of the war seems clear, though the communication piece can be partly ascribed to the lack of modern technology. It also brings home the fact that, sometimes, "you get what you prepare for" and that, if you prepare enough for bad things to happen, you can sometimes make them happen. That's how it felt to me anyhow.

My only criticism is that, at times, I found it extremely difficult to keep in my head the various individuals, battle fronts, town names and situations. At certain points the author gets into such depths on these points that I got lost, and couldn't keep that multi-dimensional view in my head. Probably others will do better.

But, overall, I'd highly recommend this book. It's obviously very old (1960s I think), but, as a clear account of that first terrible month, it is excellent to read and very informative indeed. It has left wanting to learn more about WW1, though I'm not sure the next 4 yrs make for particularly happy reading (especially not in the middle of a pandemic...)
15 people found this helpful
Report