The guns of August - Barbara W. Tuchman

Canadian troops in World War I
Canadian troops in World War I

In this landmark, Pulitzer Prize–winning 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.

Submitted by Tyrion on October 9, 2013

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.

Comments

Tyrion

10 years 3 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Tyrion on December 2, 2013

Incidentally, though Guns of August is supposedly quite good (I haven't actually read it myself) and covers some very important history, Tuchman wrote an absolutely terrible chapter about anarchism in her book The Proud Tower that largely ignores anarchism as a mass movement of the working class in favor of painting anarchists as a bunch of bomb throwing nihilistic types or starry eyed idealists. Not sure if it was intended as a smear job or if Tuchman was just terribly ignorant.

Ilford

6 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Ilford on August 28, 2017

I read Guns of August many years ago, was taking a history; brilliant book, not popular with the Brits. As an aside, General French, when relieved of command was next assigned to Ireland.

Ilford

6 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Ilford on August 28, 2017

I am new here, can anyone tell me if I can buy a copy of Guns of August or is there a way of reading the book on line ?

Fleur

6 years 6 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Fleur on August 28, 2017

Just click on the link under the heading "Attachment " & you should be able to download it.