World War I

The Smithsonian Institution and DK Publishing have produced this new history, "World War I: The Definitive Visual History from Sarajevo to Versailles" (2014) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great War. Superlatives deserve to be approached with skepticism, but the term "definitive visual history" may be warranted in this instance. R.C. Grant, who has written many books on modern warfare, is credited as the author while Richard Overy, Professor of History at the University of Exeter is listed as a consultant.

The Smithsonian's WW I consists of about 350 pages divided into seven large chapters. It begins with an introductory chapter covering the conditions that led to the War between 1870 and 1914. The next five chapters cover the progress of the war on a year-by-year basis from 1914 to 1918 through the Armistice of Novemember 11, 1918. The concluding chapter explores the aftermath of the war through 1923, including the Paris Peace Conference, the Treaty of Versailles, and the continued world instability which led to WW II.

The book is evenly divided between text and pictures. The text includes a great deal of information on every page. Each chapter begins with a timeline in a calendar format which summarizes the major events of the year under discussion. The discussion then proceeds in two-page sections on facing pages covering a small, specific aspect of the war. The topics covered include battles, leaders, political events, campaigns, and activities on the home fronts, including, for example the Russian Revolution, and the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II late in the War. The war on land, sea, and air is described as are the many fronts on which WW I was fought. There are insets in the text giving a short "before" and "after" summation for each event discussed. There are also extended cross-references in the book between related topics. The "before" and "after" format and cross-references provide continuity to the presentation and allows the reader to explore a subject in the middle of the book with some necessary perspective of what came before and after. It also leads to a degree of repetition, but repetition is the mother of learning. The text includes many sections labeled "eyewitness" in which contemporaneous voices are heard about the particular event under discussion.

The pictures in the volume are well-chosen and clearly presented and labeled. They are in a mix of color and black and white. The books include maps and military diagrams for readers interested in following the progression of the many battles described. There are photographs of the trenches and their hardships, of combatants, of propaganda tools, of soldiers and leaders, of weaponry, ships, guns, planes, and more.

The book provides a surprisingly detailed overview of the Great War. It gives a feel for the enormity of the conflict in terms of size and loss of life. It helps the reader understand the origins of the Great War, its course and increasing futility, its relationship to WW II, and its continuing impact. It is a necessary and important history to understand, but not an edifying one.

Although in nearly coffee-table size and with many photographs, this book is a work for serious reading rather than for browsing. It requires about the same length of time to read and digest as a standard, non-pictorial account of the Great War. The authors are careful to present issues and controversies relating to the War without drawing dogmatic conclusions. Rather, the book encourages readers to think about the Great War and its impact. This Smithsonian pictorial history makes an excellent choice for readers who want to read one book about WW I. Readers with a serious long-term interest in the War will also learn a great deal from this volume.

Robin Friedman

Like all the DK publication that I have read, this one is visually stunning, but it is much, much, more. The photographs and drawing are supplemented by an extremely informative text that describes the war in all of its aspects. I have read many books on the subject of WWI and was greatly impressed by the scope of what was covered and while not as detailed as a scholarly text on the subject, the book gave an excellent overview and discussion of WWI. I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in history, especially European and military history. It would also be a great gift for a high school student with an interest in history or one in whom you would like to foster such an interest.

What is in the book - The book is divided into seven sections as follows:
1. The Troubled Continent, 1870-1914. The book begins with Europe in the 19th century and how this led to WWI. This is done with both pictures and text, which includes a timeline of events, starting with the 1870 Franco-Prussian War and other late 19th and early 20th century conflicts. It covers the planning and the events that led to the war. The discussion of the war itself does not begin until page 38.

2. Not Over by Christmas – This covers the initial German invasion of Belgium, fighting against Russia, First Battle of the Marne and other events in 1914.

3. Stalemate 1915 – This section describes the establishment of the trench system, life in the trenches, the Gallipoli campaign and the naval battles in the North Sea.

4. Year of Battles 1916 – The battles of Verdun and the Somme are highlighted as are the commanders who directed this fighting.

5. Revolution and Disillusion 1917 – The overthrow of the Czar is discussed as is the US entry into the war and other subjects such as tank warfare the German U-boat campaign, and the battles at Passchendaele, Ypres and Caporetto.

6. Victory and Defeat 1918 - The German offensive of 1918 and its ultimate defeat, leading to the Armistice of November 1918.

7. Aftermath 1919-1923 – The Paris Peace Conference, Versailles Treaty and postwar conflicts.

All these sections contain timelines, maps, details about weapons military commanders and civilian leaders, and articles covering topics such as: chemical warfare, warships at sea, the home front, war posters, animals at war and many others. The result is to provide a comprehensive but highly readable and visually stunning overview of WWI.

This is a really nice book - almost coffee-table size (and quality!) but with good information inside. It gives a very decent overview history of WWI (I've read a handful of histories on the "Great War" but wouldn't consider myself an expert) and the battles and such, but it also does a good job of putting it into the context of the time (although blaming it on the assassination of Franz Ferdinand is a bit simplistic). The layout is a bit dense and text a bit on the small side, but it's still very informative. Pictures are used heavily, although they aren't all "war" photos (and while there are a lot of actual "war" photos, I don't recall seeing anything I thought was overly graphic). There are also quite a few pages throughout that show various items, such as the guns (or grenades, tanks, airplanes, uniforms, etc.) of WWI that is interesting and gives it the museum-experience feel. I'm mostly familiar with DK books from when my kids were younger, and we bought several of the "encyclopedia" type of books they produce. But this one is on a much higher level than those books - with the same picture-heavy format but with excellent quality information. Overall, I really like this book and think it serves well both as an introduction to WWI and as a supplement to a more serious beginner study. And it looks great on the coffee table, too!

Thanks to the approaching centennial, we're being subjected to a veritable onslaught of books on the First World War: I've counted five just on the causes of the war, and read a couple of them. This book takes a somewhat different approach: rather than lengthy textual analysis, the emphasis is on the visual. The folks at the Smithsonian are experts at presenting information, especially to people who are new to a subject, and this book is a good example. In spite of its length and hefty weight, it's easily accessible, and a worthy addition to anyone's library. I had thought myself well-informed on the history of the war, but learned a lot, especially on some of the "side shows" outside the European front. If the book has a flaw, it's in the maps, which are often small and confusing: the map of Gallipoli, for example (east-at-the-top, for some reason) shows where the landings took place, but doesn't give a clear idea of just where Gallipoli was. The book is probably best appreciated in small doses, or perhaps by dipping into it at random spots (it need not be read consecutively). After half an hour or so, the reader tends to get a case of "museum fatigue," similar to what you get after wandering the Smithsonian for a while. Go take a break and have a snack.

You've heard it said before: American kids are not getting the historical background that everyone should know. Names such as Woodrow Wilson, Archduke Ferdinand, Edith Cavell (British nurse executed by the Germans, provoking a worldwide outcry), Lenin, Hitler, John J. Pershing, Winston Churchill are names in a history book (that most people blank out on during "Watters World" or the old "Jaywalking" segments when Leno was the king of late night.) Other peoples worldwide might not know the depth and the brutality and the reasons behind World War I. This well-organized book with dense text and regular side diversions such as profiles of the major people in the war, elegantly written eyewitness accounts, military technology briefings is a powerful visual history to give the kids and the history lovers in your life. The kids will be intrigued by the trench warfare that reminds one of the current James Dashner series "The Maze Runner" and the spy technology. Then there are all the nifty illustrations.

From pictures of silver Mesopotamian flasks used by British troops to war recruitment posters in Russian, German, French, Austrian, and English to vivid paintings that capture the battles, each chapter, about two pages long, of the major seven sections showcases the images of World War I (Vietnamese troops fighting with the French! Biscuit rations so hard you could make a photo frame out of them! Battle maps!) Typically there are four images on each two-page spread and quotes from the soldiers to the generals to the refugees, plus recaps at the beginning and end of each chapter that orient you in the book and tell you what happened so far and as well as preview the next chapter.

The sheer information dump, well-written and with dazzling historical detail (Eugene Bullard was the first African-American fighter pilot), is worth savoring. Don't rush it--you can't. You get a sense of what has shaped the current political landscape of today, what led to World War II, and the conflicts that are still raging today (Vladimir Putin invading Crimea, anyone?)

The seven sections take you smoothly through the main stages of the war.

1) The Troubled Contient--Preparing for war. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. The major players.
2) Not Over By Christmas--The Yule Truce between Allies and Germans aside, 1914 was an unexpectedly bloody year.
3) Stalemate--The Allies suffer through the Battle of Ypres and the Battle at Dogger Bank. Despite the sinking of the Lusitania, the US remains neutral. The British are in Iraq (Mesopotamia). Most devastating, modern chemical warfare is used. Mustard gas is particularly horrible.
4) Year of Battles--Verdun. Verdun. Verdun. And the Somme. Irish rebellion. Arab Revolt. Trouble in Romania.
5) Revolution and Disillusion--Russia catches revolution fever from the Irish. Wilson has no choice but to enter the war after the Germans offer the Mexican government a land grab. Some Germans are antiwar while one general, Erich Ludendorff, says, "Basically, this war comes down simply to killing one another." The Canadians rock at Arras and Vimy Ridge after distinguishing themselves at Flanders Field (the poem "In Flanders Field is on the CAD $10).
6) Victory and Defeat--Australians show Germany as a grasping, bloodthirsty beast (pre-King Kong). The Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Russian Bolsheviks refuse to talk peace. Germans get ration coupons. The French live for butter, flour and chocolate rations. German Stormtroopers (Sturmtruppen) infiltrate combat and cross "a battered tangle of wire without difficulty." Russia surrenders to Germany in the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The Michael Offensive. The Battle of Belleau Wood. France's epic Renault FT Tank takes no prisoners in the Battle of the Marne, an Allied turning point.Germans mutiny after attempting to intercept convoys off the coast of Norway. Climax of the Air War ("Join the Royal Air Force and share their honour and glory.") 13,000 American and 40,000 British troops intervene in Russia and try to overthrow the Bolsheviks. The Armistice: "No more slaughter, no more maiming, no more mud and blood, and no more killing." Victory parades.
7) Aftermath--"Devastated World," proclaims one chapter. Spanish flu breaks out, almost 10 million military Allied casualties, new world orders and the beginnings of Yugoslavia, typhus in Constantinople, "Red Scare" in the US in 1919, the Paris Peace Conference/League of Nations, a copy of the Treaty of Versailles minus President Wilson's signature, Greece versus Turkey, the rise of Fascism and isolationism in many countries in a war-weary world. Governments promised that the conflict would be "a war to end war."

A brilliant book for History Channel buffs and the public.

Rhetorically, the phrase "the war to end all wars" according to H.G. Wells and Woodrow Wilson, appeared to be the case after 1918. However, soon thereafter by the time the 1920s emerged, another world war was brewing. DK publishing and the Smithsonian and R.G. Grant prove this fact within this heavily bound and detailed book of the war World War I: The Definitive Visual History from Sarajevo to Versailles. Senior Curator of the Armed Forces of History, Smithsonian Institution Barton C. Hacker sets the stage of this part of history in the foreword with a summary of the entire scope of the war that drew a line between the ancient and the modern eras within the respective regions that became affected by the tragic events that began on June 28, 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and proceeded to neighboring countries, and Germany and France, and as far as the Ottoman Empire. These events and the results of the war contributed to the demise of the ancient structure of an empire in Europe that comprised of a hereditary lineage and the wealth and power that came along with it. But also opened the doors for a new model of political order and a new way of fighting a war that tremendously became reliant on modern technology.

The book takes into account all of the above and the most intricate details of the war as it involved a vast amount of geographical terrain that steps outside the initial lines of conflict that began in Sarajevo and part of eastern and western Europe but across the Mediterranean Sea to Africa, Turkey, and the extension of the South Pacific. And within these lines readers may see the parallels of each of the campaigns that were fought between 1914-1918 by the thousands of soldiers that volunteered and the tireless war efforts at home and abroad, the world came together to fight and resolve the greater conflict against evil; with much of the written accounts that have been written in the past 100 years, one cannot imagine a war to be fought within this scope by land by horseback, foot, trench warfare, sea battles, and air. And in addition to that observation, much of the information displayed in the book sheds a light on the boundaries of the war that most readers may not be familiar with after Serbia and France and the Ottoman Empire. For this reader, the editors of this book did an exceptional job, cover to cover, of an examination of the Great War. This can be attributed to the fine detail of images, maps, timelines, commentary, concise historical narrative, and the insightful quotes woven within each section; indeed, the book simulates in book form a museum exhibits.

The book may actually weigh much within one's hand, but it can also be said that the weight also equates to its contents. This is highly recommended to anyone that would like to learn and understand much more of the history of the First World War. And upon completing this book, it most likely will be referenced more than once.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WWI, and I could not believe that a "coffee table" book could adequately cover it, so I ordered this one to check it out. I find it to be beautifully constructed, with very good pictures, and text that covers the events concisely and surprisingly completely.

The book is large, which is why I described it as "coffee table", which makes it a bit difficult to handle. That is the only complaint I have about the work. I was afraid at first that some of the text would be difficult to read since it often puts text over pictures (especially white text over dark pictures), but in fact it was quite legible. As a photographic memoir of the war, it excels. Most of the pictures are black and white, but there are a large number of plate drawings that are in full color. I found that the picture in this case does impart a feeling of the grandeur and horror of that conflict; a mere word based book doesn't do the subject justice. The visual impact is striking.

But pictures are only half the story - the words have to match. I compared the WWI reading I have done with what is found here, and it was accurate in every instance I checked. The writing style is very concise, almost like an encyclopedia, but for that style it is not as dry as one might think. The writing is not in story mode; it is simply factual, which could make the events described seem a bit far off. But when those words are combined with the large pictures, the story comes alive. The book describes both the events of the war (with a timeline page for each year) and key figures and facts, which generally receive a separate (one or two page) treatment (such as the Kaiser and important generals). This is a broad spectrum that will leave the reader with a very good overview of what it was all about.

I learned a great many things. I had not realized, for example, that the Russians initially had some success on the Eastern Front (before the disaster at Tannenberg), or that they learned from that defeat - they were smarter than most history books describe. I was also fascinated by the details of the far eastern warfare at the beginning of the conflict (where the Japanese were our allies). It seemed as if almost every other page or so brought out some interesting tidbit. I have not studied the Great War (as it was called) that much, and this book has greatly enhanced my knowledge.

Summary: If you don't know much about WWI when you start the book, you will know a whole lot when you finish. Highly recommended.

Easily the most engrossing of World War I histories that I've ever read, this superb DK visual study of a tragically unnecessary war takes an old maxim to heart: one picture is worth a thousand words. There are hundreds of fascinating photos and illustrations throughout this large format hardcover book. Each page is a treat for the eyes without becoming mere eye-candy. The photos and illustrations are carefully chosen to bring the text to life in ways few publishers are capable of doing. DK has mastered the difficult technique of arranging illustrations thematically, even when their connection is initially puzzling.

The text is incisive and absorbing; in prose that avoids becoming either pedantic or musty there is a substantial amount of serious analysis of the issues and events that led to a world war whose purpose remains elusive. Once the war has begun, World War I: The Definitive Visual History really soars in its mission to surround the reader with unforgettable images and descriptions of the battles, tactics, strategies, defeats and victories that are the story of the "war to end all wars". With our advantage of a century's hindsight, we can watch this unfolding tragedy sadder but wiser, forearmed with the knowledge that most promises that war can guarantee peace in our time are merely empty words. World War I began because poor decision making and nearly universal self-deception led to events rapidly spiraling out of control. Nations often stumble into war but are rarely able to stumble out again. That is the ultimate lesson this book teaches. It is a crucial lesson and can only be forgotten at our peril.

This book is stunning! Of course, its 360 pages are packed full of amazing WWI content, too, but the visual history is not to be reckoned with.

For every era of history, I like to stock our homeschool shelf with a great reference book. Usually, the reference book doesn't actually become the curriculum, but this book has! The chronological information about WWI goes beyond any high school history textbook I've ever seen. And, to know that information is accompanied by such outstanding images lets me know my high school students won't just read the history, but see it and understand it clearly. While there are no questions, tests or projects that go along with the book, it's easy to use it as the main text of a course covering WWI. Simply choose to have discussions, develop test questions from the text or assign projects.

The book is divided into seven sections that detail everything from the origins of the war through to the end. Timelines and maps are sprinkled generously throughout the book among actual photos of battles, important figures, weaponry, war propaganda and so much more. The intricacies of such a giant and complex event are clearly detailed, yet formatted in such a way so my less than stellar reader doesn't feel overwhelmed. We give every page an A++!

World War I: A Definitive Visual History published by DK is a very timely book. June 28, 2014 marks the centennial of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914. By August 6 of that same year the dominos had fallen with first one country and then another declaring war of each other. At that point the blood bath had begun and the hounds of Hell were released.

This book, similar in size to coffee table books, is a marvelous study of the entire tragedy. Full of pictures and easy to read text makes World War I and informative addition to your personal library. I especially like the use of the before and after tool. Each major event includes a “before” it happened and then looks at how things changed as a result of that event. Also of great interest are the pictorial studies included. The one that comes to mind is the full-page depiction of the weapons used in trench warfare and identifying which country they belonged to. I have to agree with another reviewer that states the book is organized in many ways just like a museum and this makes the whole book very informative and useful.

This book is also very complete in the material covered. I cannot think of any aspect or area not covered between the covers. The soldiers, their uniforms, food, weapons, living conditions just to name a few are all fully covered. The battles are explained as are the relationships between the combating countries.

World War 1: A Definitive Visual History is a great book and certainly worth the cost of purchasing it. I highly recommend.

Semper Fi.

"World War I: The Definitive Visual History" is a copiously illustrated coffee table book that encompasses the pre-war years as well as the War itself. Chronologically arranged, the choice of illustrations (whether photographs, paintings, or drawings) complements the text about each topic. Beautifully laid out and copiously illustrated, this visual history is indeed a VISUAL presentation of the historical setting of the War, its events, and aftermath.

Unfortunately for the serious (or even semi-serious) scholar, this book suffers from a lack of bibliographic information. No notes or citations are included. The only acknowledgements that are given are for the use of the photos and illustrations in the book. As a trained historical researcher, this is problematical to me. How does one find out more about the sources used, if there are no sources provided?

Recommended as a coffee table book-the pictures are plentiful, and some are rarely ever used in other histories. The text is difficult to read at times, and can be repetitive.

World War I is often overlooked because of the far more destructive and massive world war which followed it. This is unfortunate because WWI was the war which began a century of constant war which we are still fighting today. It was the first major war where killing became mechanized. War strategy and tactics were created from scratch. It was not only a clash of empires but also of the old world and the new world, of old men and young men. The more we understand about WWI the more we will understand our dangerous world today because nearly every bloody conflict over the last 80 years has some kind of root in The War to End All Wars.

This lavishly illustrated coffee table sized book does a great job laying out encyclopedic information and timelines for The Great War. The book does an excellent job giving the reader a comprehensive and thorough overview of the conflict. Everything is here; weapons, tactics, uniforms, statistics, maps, battles and so much more. The details of the war may seem overwhelming but this is a book which you can feel comfortable reading from cover to cover, although if you are like me you will only be able to do it in small increments. For me it's just too much info to absorb in one long read. This book is supplemented and supplements books like All Quiet on the Western Front,A Farewell To Arms, or Ashenden: The British Agent.

WWI loses priority to WWII in our generation's eyes. Maybe its because it started 100 years ago, had the least amount of photographic and televised media of almost any war in the 20th century, and has almost no surviving veterans. But this was the birthplace of 20th century conflict, planting the seeds for almost all the drama, warfare, and tensions that exist to present day.

Although filled with a few errors here or there, almost every aspect of the war is covered in painstaking detail. From uniform to music to weapon to troop movement, R.G. Grant created a marvel of information. It does not simply focus on the war itself but the socio-economic impact, political tensions, technological innovations, industrial prowess, and even impact on the family level. This is a page turner in every way shame and form, each page with more truths, pictures, and text to keep any reader engaged.

I love this book! Carrying on the great tradition of DK eyewitness books, this WW1, The Definitive Visual History is wonderful. The sweep, the depth and the panoramic exploration of the horrible human tragedy of the 1st world war are captured in this book. It explores the war from the historical, military and human points of view. I especially liked the pages of the widespread suffering that was wrought upon the common people as their leaders pursued empire building and conducted ethnic cleansing at their expense. Most pages have very helpful capsule biographies of significant people along the way, kings, generals, poets, artists, inventors, song writers with great portraits and compact summaries.
Another great feature were timelines by year and months with significant dates punctuated with photos, maps & artwork.
This is a must have for any history library.

This book has it all. Lots of pictures and graphics (mostly in the form of battle maps) about World War I, of course, but it also covers the many different theaters where battles were fought, looks at the roots of the war, and gives a nice overview of the entire campaign. In my perspective, this isn't for someone who is looking for a "deep dive" into the war, but it's a great book to curl up with your kid, look at the pictures and read about the many, many aspects of the war, many of which aren't even covered in school any more. From that perspective, this is a really good book and one that has given my son and I hours of enjoyment.

This being the 100th anniversary of World War I, or the Great War as it was known until a second great war in the middle of the century made it necessary to refer to it as World War I and the second as World War II. Many historians point out that the two wars were really one great world war with a twenty year ceasefire separating them. Indeed one of the best known, the late Oxford University historian A.J.P. Taylor, spoke of the two wars as the First and Second German Wars.

The 100th anniversary of what was the most significant event since the fall of the Roman Empire in the West at the end of the fifth century A.D. has caused a frenzy among book publishers. Numerous books on every aspect of the Great War, from its causes to the failed peace that ended it, have already appeared. We can look for many, many more to come as we relive the war over the next five years.

As one who has taught university level courses on modern European history, including specific courses on the Great War, I am not surprised by the sudden interest. Of all the many wars in history the Great War is considered the prime example of the foolishness, the madness, and the absurdity of all wars.

There was no reason for the war. None of the powers who at one point or the other became involved in it had any reason for going to war, except perhaps the United States. A victory for the Central Powers would have been a financial disaster for America. Then too, one must add the naïve bungling of an overly idealistic president with virtually no knowledge of foreign affairs, one who ignored the informed advice of his Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan, to stay out of the war. President Wilson thought he could lead the world into a future where everyone loved everyone and no one was either prideful or greedy. The experienced and more realistic British Prime Minister David Lloyd George likened Wilson to Jesus Christ.

From the beginning of the war, historians have debated who was responsible for starting it. It is a favorite subject of academic and popular historians alike. Every year several books appear arguing for this or that one’s responsibility. The consensus tends to be in line with what David Lloyd George said in his memoirs: “The nations slithered over the brink into the boiling cauldron of war without a trace of apprehension or dismay.” Put another way, the European great powers found themselves in a war no one wanted, with victory as the only way out.

Many individuals are seeking a book of some sort that will provide a very readable summation of all the varied aspects of the war. I can think of no better volume than R. G. Grant’s WORLD WAR I: THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL HISTORY FROM SARAJEVO TO VERSAILLES (New York: DK Publishing, 2014).

As with all of DK’s publications, WORLD WAR I is a visual feast, a museum between book covers. I can best convey my own enthusiasm for this book by quoting Publishers Weekly: “He [Grant] presents information in an accessible manner and makes it easy to peruse a rich array of articles, detailed maps, and images. The selection of images builds a remarkable portrait of the war. This is a broad, moving, informative account of the war that's perfect for both the young, budding historian and the well-versed WWI reader" (March 24, 2014).

As a history teacher I always thought I was relatively well versed on the first World War. After reading this fine book, however, I am rethinking that opinion. What a magnificently enlightening book. It is full of fantastic information and that information is organized in a most remarkably organized fashion. I did not want to finish it. It is that good. If your knowledge base is a little on the shallow side concerning WWI, I would recommend this very well written book. It grabs you and doesn't want to let go.

This book will surely become a beautiful addition to your home library. The photographs, the details, maps, the bookplates, descriptions of various battles...... I could truly go on and on. This book had to have taken years of research and the work of many researchers to complete this task.
Then to put the stamp of the Smithsonian onto this work even makes it more worthwhile.
Many I'm sure will give this book five stars, and deservedly so. It is truly a beautiful book and one that I am proud to now call mine.

World War I - The Definitive History by R. G. Grant and published by DK is an excellent book. Any military buff or historian will love it. It contains a wealth of information and is beautifully presented with wonderful photos and illustrations. The information is divided into sections that make sense and are easy for the reader to use. I recommend it highly.

Only one caveat. The book is a large coffee-table size and contains a huge amount of information. A person could find the size to be somewhat overwhelming.

This is an extremely heavy coffee table type book which covers the history of World War I with knowledgeable text and very many pictures, some of which are even in color. I like to think that I know quite a bit about this war, but there were many aspects of it in this book that were somewhat new to me.

As I said, it's a heavy book and holding it to read at times is a task, but it is well worth reading, and I can highly recommend it.

IF there is a more definitive visual history of the Great War, I probably cannot lift it. This coffee table book is of high production quality, and is as much a short and popular history as it is a compendium of drawings, cartoons, pictures, and maps. The combination yields a very good quick history of World War I that -- with pictures -- shows the global breadth of the war, and the cusp of technological change that made the War so deadly.

Gorgeous book. Wonderful addition to learning history for children. It is well organized; illustrations are incredible, and compliment the printed word. The book is a pleasure to hold in hands and read.