Peter Liddle

If one has been a student of WWI military strategy and leaders, the phrase "lions led by donkeys", would be familiar. This alludes to the fact that the British casualty rate was often very high and the blame rested on those in charge. The author's thesis is that this may not be true to the degree that it is actually believed as fact. Mr. Liddle does an excellent job in providing other reasons as to the frequent high casualty rate; all of them plausible. More than the alternative reasons for show more the high cost of success, I learned a lot more about the actual battle than we normally get in our textbooks in the U.S. 262 pages show less

The joy of books for me is the range of titles available, and the differing purposes of books, so one can gain differing perspectives of a subject. There are several books that provide personal accounts of war service in the First World War, and others that analyse particular battles, but overall, few that cover the political and military strategic elements of the war. This book helps fill this void.

I admit that I particularly enjoy a book of this style, where several historians have show more contributed individual chapters, covering a range of issues. The twenty-one chapters cover a review of the Dardanelles and Gallipoli campaign, firepower and equipment in use with the British Army, German Command and Control during the Somme fighting, Facial Surgery, the effect of war on faith, and teenagers in war. With my particular interests in mind, I was very pleased to read the chapter on the Indian Army and the Mesopotamia Campaign.

Another advantage for me with a book of this style, is the ability to pick it up, and read one chapter at a time. You can be really anarchic, and read Chapter 14, followed by Chapter 2, and then 19 if you want to, as each Chapter stands by itself. To read the whole book remains important to gain the full context of the nature of the First World War in this period. All the authors of chapters are distinguished academics in their field, and include Peter LIDDLE himself, Duncan REDFORD, Gary SHEFFIELD, and Robert JOHNSON.

There are eighty photographs included, each one supports the subject of a chapter. There are many I have not seen before, and the quality is good. On the rear of the book it states, ‘Explores key issues such as leadership and command, valour, conscientious objection, military medicine, the Home Front, the role of women, grief and bereavement, the archaeology of the war’, and having read the book twice, I agree fully. In short, a great book, and a thought provoking, yet enjoyable, read. show less

This short book tries to do three things: give a military narrative of the battle of the Somme, convey something of the experiences of the soldiers who fought there, and assess to validity of the old 'Lions led by donkeys' judgement of British generals. It sort of succeeds with all three, but it might have been better in a book of this length to focus on one. I have read attempts at two and three by, for example, [a:Malcolm Brown|36489|Malcolm show more Brown|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Gary Sheffield|76380|Gary Sheffield|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1408616049p2/76380.jpg], which worked better because they limited their aims. Fitting, I suppose for a book on this topic. That said, this is a decent short introduction to the subject. show less

This book is a compilation of 61 papers or essays on the experiences of defined groups or even an individual during the First World War. It is broken down into 11 parts. I found the book interesting due to the narrow focus presented by the authors of the essays. Most of the authors are known to me; some are not. I have read 300 or so books on WWI, so I do have a solid understanding the very facets of the war. However, by focusing on a very narrow area the authors are able to convey the war show more experience of the subject in 10-15 pages.

Of the 61 topics, probably 5 were of little or no interest to me; the remainder I thought worthwhile. The book is long....936 pages all included. So it is not a fast read. However I found it worth plowing through. I would suggest getting it from a library rather than purchasing it. This did not seem to me to be a book I would read again, nor use as a reference. Perhaps the bibliography or footnotes might provide some further reading.

I would say you must have a strong interest in WWI to get through this book. show less