The First World War

A Complete History

By: Martin Gilbert

Narrated by: Roger Clark

It was to be the war to end all wars, and it began at 11:15 on the morning of June 28, 1914, in an outpost of the Austro-Hungarian Empire called Sarajevo. It would officially end nearly five years later. Unofficially, however, it has never ended: Many of the horrors we live with today are rooted in the First World War.

The Great War left millions of civilians and soldiers maimed or dead. It also saw the creation of new technologies of destruction: tanks, planes, and submarines; machine guns and field artillery; poison gas and chemical warfare. It introduced U-boat packs and strategic bombing, unrestricted war on civilians and mistreatment of prisoners. But the war changed our world in far more fundamental ways than these.

In its wake, empires toppled, monarchies fell, and whole populations lost their national identities. As political systems and geographic boundaries were realigned, the social order shifted seismically. Manners and cultural norms; literature and the arts; education and class distinctions; all underwent a vast sea change.

©1994 Martin Gilbert (P)2020 Tantor

WWI was a fascinating read

My 102 year old Dad found it thoroughly interesting. We both learned so much about WWI that we had not known before. For folks who like his to, t is an excellent read.

The stupidity of government leaders. Tragic

Tragic senseless war that in the end set stage for WWll. Would have liked to hear more about strategy and politics involved in management of war.

Outstanding

Martin Gilbert provides a treasure trove of stories & information on this horrific war. This truly is about as complete as any single volume history of WW1 can be. Loved it!

Thoroughly explained.

Undoubtedly the most thorough accounting of WW1 ever put to paper. Can be tedious at times but well done nonetheless.

VERY comprehensive and compelling

interesting, kept my attention and made me realize how complicated the 1st WW was. good book!