Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy: Stevenson, David: 9780465081851: Amazon.com: Books

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Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy Paperback – May 11, 2005

by David Stevenson (Author)

101

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David Stevenson's widely acclaimed history of World War I changes forever our understanding of that pivotal conflict. Countering the commonplace assumption that politicians lost control of events, and that the war, once it began, quickly became an unstoppable machine, Stevenson contends that politicians deliberately took risks that led to war in July 1914. Far from being overwhelmed by the unprecedented scale and brutality of the bloodshed, political leaders on both sides remained very much in control of events throughout. According to Stevenson, the disturbing reality is that the course of the war was the result of conscious choices -- including the continued acceptance of astronomical casualties. In fluid prose, Stevenson has written a definitive history of the man-made catastrophe that left lasting scars on the twentieth century. Cataclysm is a truly international history, incorporating new research on previously undisclosed records from governments in Europe and across the world. From the complex network of secret treaties and alliances that eventually drew all of Europe into the war, through the bloodbaths of Gallipoli and the Somme, to the arrival of American forces, and the massive political, economic, and cultural shifts the conflict left in its wake, Cataclysm is a major revision of World War I history.

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Print length

623 pages
Language

English
Publication date

May 11, 2005
Dimensions

6.14 x 1.56 x 9.21 inches
ISBN-10

0465081851
ISBN-13

978-0465081851
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book should be on the shelf with the best of the many books about WWI. Cataclysm is a major re-examination of the shaping tragedy of the 20th century."

"David Stevenson is the real deal....His defining characteristic is his outstanding rigour as an historian.... [ think him tremendously clever."

About the Author

David Stevenson is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics. He is the author of numerous publications on this subject, including The First World War and International Politics and The Outbreak of the First World War: 1914 in Perspective. He lives in London.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; Revised edition (May 11, 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 623 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465081851
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465081851
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.7 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 1.56 x 9.21 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #837,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,122 in World War I History (Books)
- #3,136 in History & Theory of Politics
- #21,675 in World History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
101

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

101 global ratings

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Book arrived undamaged

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2023

Verified Purchase

On its way quick for a marketplace seller. Got here in less than a week. Book is in new condition.

R. G. Micciulla

A Comprehensive Study of "How?"

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

World War I is a subject I've studied for thirty years and this book offers an excellent summary of the reasons for the war and the subsequent hardships endured by the participants. The reader will have to have some knowledge of the battles and personages of the time but overall this was an excellent read with a fresh perspective on the war.

5 people found this helpful

Learned How 20th Century Formed by This Conflict

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2014

Verified Purchase

There are probably other one-volume WWI histories that describe the military aspects of the war better than this. My aim in selecting this one were the economic and diplomatic explanations Stevenson presented, as well as a reconsideration of long-established tropes from other historians as well as poets and writers borne of the aftermath. Indeed, people knew what fire they were playing with and still went forth.

Understand the 21st century

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2004

Verified Purchase

To understand the world politics of the 21st century, you have to understand the 20th century. To do that you have to understand the seminal event of that century, the First World War.

This book is a superb one-volume treatment of this subject. It leads to a clear appreciation of the root causes, the motivations of the belligerants, and the aftermaths, which even today are critical to world politics.

10 people found this helpful

Excellent WWI Overview

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2012

Verified Purchase

As others have stated, appreciation of this excellent book requires reasonalbe prior knowledge of the primary battles of the war. This is not a military history, but strives to explain how & why the war started, how the military strategies & outcomes of the combatants were shaped by political, economic & technological developments, and how & why the war ended. The specific military progress of the war is not described with the details of separate battles, but (instructively) by a bigger-picture approach to season-long, regional campaigns. This military overview is then correlated with contemporaneous political trends, providing a very cohesive picture of multiple aspects of the war. There are several moments when the writing gets bogged down in lists of numbers, but this dense text is in general very well written and easily readable. The maps are even pretty good, atypical for a WWI history.
A new reader in the field should start with Keegan, then read this.

7 people found this helpful

for beginners good, for ww1 buffs bad

Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2004

Verified Purchase

the book first of all is laden with editorial gaffs. the maps are the same we've been seeing over the years elsewhere without showing anything new. real politics is given short shirf. episodes requiring a chapter are summarized in a paragraph.

as a starter book it does well or to those just wanting the most succinct synopsis of ww1 all over again. i was very dissappointed. hew strachen's, to arms is the most definitive we have on this subject.

15 people found this helpful

Another good book

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have not started it yet but I have wanted to buy it for my library for some time

Top book on WW1

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2019

Verified Purchase

I am reading the book now. Very good

One person found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Seym

Excellent read. Very detailed compared to other books on ...

Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2014

Verified Purchase

Excellent read. Very detailed compared to other books on WW1 I have read. Highly recommended.

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