Book Review

 The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War. Peter Hart. Oxford University Press, New York, 2013. 

    Peter Hart’s, The Great War is an excellent account of the Great War. Hart generated a superb narrative that follows the events that led up to World War 1 and the major timeline of the war itself. The narrative includes accounts of the Western Front, the Eastern Front, naval campaigns, the middle east (including Mesopotamia and Palestine.)  Hart utilizes sources from both a top-down and bottom-up version of the war.  

    Hart mentions the important players of British, French, and German high commands. He described Erich Von Ludendorff, Douglas Haig, Sir John French, Joesef Joffre, and numerous other generals in capacious detail.  He provided both criticisms and praise for their various military engagements and tried to maintain a neutral stance on their abilities as leaders.  His use of low-ranking military sources gave more in depth depictions of the battlefield.  The sources on the ground were almost poetic in their descriptions of the death and destruction that took place in Europe.  

    Hart’s detailed description of the weapons of the war demonstrated a deep attention to detail.  The Maxim machine gun, for example, became a memorable tool of warfare throughout the telling of the wartime narrative.  From artillery to chemical weapons, Hart was able to incorporate each novel invention of death as part of chronological depiction of mankind’s need to eviscerate itself.  

    Photographs were included in the book to give a visual aid to the reader that could contribute to a more accurate telling of the events of the Great War.  He included pictures of the battlefield, which featured the war-ravaged countryside of France and Belgium.  Photographs of key political and military leaders were also included so the reader could find it to be a more immersive narrative.  Additionally, pictures of weapons, vehicles, and trench fortifications were present in order that was chronological yet organic.   

    Peter Hart more than effectively captured the horror and despair of the Great War.  His storytelling mastery was revealed through each page in his work.  This book has potential to give a historical narrative that most of the public would find palatable.  The book also has academic potential for scholars looking to incorporate a valuable secondary source to their own work.   

    As a military history, the book, however, fails to provide cultural context to the Great War.  The events of the war are merely isolated to combat with just a smidge of political pretext.  While no author can realistically capture all aspects and facets of life that war touches, this book remains mostly combat related.  The book also minimizes the role played by the United States in turning the tide of the wars to the Allied Powers.  There is barely a mention of John Pershing's role in the war.  The United States was merely a source of fresh, well-fed bodies.  

    Overall, I found Hart’s work to be an invigorating read that kept my interest the whole way through.  His descriptions of naval campaigns left something to be desired, as there were many nautical terms that the layperson might find confusing or disorienting.  Average and academic alike can at least gain some kind of insight because of Hart’s work.  I would recommend taking the time to read through the book, as I am certain, you would not be disappointed.