First World War Books

Book SynopsisThis volume throws into sharp relief the material elements of British power, such as economic, military and naval force, but also its less tangible components, such as financial and diplomatic ties. It deepens our understanding of the global nature of British power.Trade Review‘… a valuable addition to the literature on Britain’s world-power century. Its twin themes are the almost infinite complexities of Britain’s accumulated commitments as a global power, and the advantages conferred by its (and especially London’s) role as the hub of global communications for much of the nineteenth century and a good part of the twentieth.’ John Darwin, The English Historical ReviewTable of Contents1. Introduction: British world policy and the White Queen's memory T. G. Otte; 2. The War Trade Intelligence Department and British economic warfare during the First World War John Robert Ferris; 3. The British empire and the meaning of 'minimum force necessary' in colonial counter-insurgencies operations, c.1857–1967 David French; 4. Yokohama for the British in the late nineteenth century: a hub for imperial defence and a node of influence for change T. G. Otte; 5. 'The diplomatic digestive organ': the Foreign Office as the nerve-centre of foreign policy, c. 1800–1940 T. G. Otte; 6. Financial and commercial networks between Great Britain and South America during the long nineteenth century Kathleen Burk; 7. Britain through Russian eyes: 1900–1914 Dominic Lieven; 8. Imperial Germany's naval challenge and the renewal of British power John H. Maurer; 9. Views of war, 1914 and 1939: second thoughts Zara Steiner; 10. The ambassadors, 1919–1939 Erik Goldstein; 11. The tattered ties that bind: the imperial general staff and the dominions, 1919–1939 Douglas E. Delaney; 12. Seeking a family consensus?: Anglo-Dominion relations and the failed Imperial Conference of 1941 Kent Fedorowich; 13. Imperial hubs and their limitations: British assessments of imposing sanctions on Japan, 1937 G. Bruce Strang.

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Book SynopsisTo the British soldiers of the Great War who heard about it, 'shell shock' was uncanny, amusing and sad.Trade Review'One of the crucial and most moving episodes of twentieth century British history has now found its worthy historian. Peter Leese writes the story of shell shock with expertise and flair, with critical detachment and compassion. Avoiding judgementalism, he brings out the full enormity of this tragic story.' - Professor Roy Porter, Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine 'The book fills a glaring gap in our historical knowledge.' - Mark Micale, Associate Professor of History, University of Illinois 'Shell shock was born as a condition in 1915 but has grown to become a metaphor for the horrors of total war. Leese tells the story of that evolution with learning, sympathy and a shrewd sense of the way medical history can illuminate our understanding of the violent twentieth-century as a whole.' - Professor Jay Winter, Department of History, Yale University '...a powerful and authoritative study of the war's mental legacy.' - Ben Shephard, Times Literary Supplement 'Those willing to pay attention, however, will be rewarded by this first full-length treatment of Britain's 'shell-shock' experience.' - Maureen T. Moore, Journal of Military History '...an interesting contribution both to medical history and to the continuing debate about...WWI. - T.L. Crosby, ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: DISCOVERIES Shocking Modernity: Hysteria, Technology and Warfare Casualties: On the Western Front PART II: WARTIME Enlistment: Army Policy, Politics and the Press Treatment: On the Home Front Patients: The Other Ranks Patients: The Officer Ranks PART II: LEGACIES Demobilization: On Returning Home Veterans: War Neurotic Ex-Servicemen Recall: The Great War in the Twentieth Century Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Trade ReviewAces High serves to remind us that … Alan Clark really was a superb military historian. -- Christopher HartTable of ContentsPrologue Part One: The Opening Shots Background 1914 - 15 1 Airmen Part Two: The Weapons are Drawn Background 1915 - 16 2 Machines 3 Tactics 4 Death Part Three: The Killing Time Background 1917 5 Aces 6 Circuses 7 Squadrons 8 Braves 9 Storks Part 4: The End of the Battles Background 1918 10 Vapour Trails Appendices 1 Comparative weights and performance of leading combat aircraft of the First World War 2 Comparative chart showing when leading combat aircraft were in operation during the First World War A Note on the Author

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Book SynopsisHolger H. Herwig is Professor of History at the University of Calgary, Canada.Trade ReviewPerhaps the single most welcome volume from the avalanche of books published to mark the centenary of the war. It fills enormous gaps in our knowledge of the war ... Herwig’s account has many strengths, not least its sheer readability. * Austrian Studies *Holger Herwig’s deft handling of sources and elegant writing bring the complexities of the Central Powers to life for his readers. In doing so, he provides the best analysis of Germany and Austria-Hungary available anywhere. His work also allows us to see the war efforts of the Allies in sharper perspective. This new edition, like the first, is a masterful book that should be on the shelf of every student of the First World War. * Michael Neiberg, author of Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I (2011) *Professor Herwig's study of Germany and Austria-Hungary in World War I has long been recognized as the best book in any language on the subject. By revising and updating his original work he has ensured his book will remain indispensable to anyone seeking to understand the actions and experiences of those two powers in the war. -- Robert Doughty, retired Professor of History, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, USATable of ContentsSeries editor's preface Introduction 1. Origins: 'Now or Never' 2. The Plans of War 3. The Great Gamble, 1914 4. Towards Industrialized War, 1915 5. Dual Defeats: From the Meuse to the Sereth, 1916 6. The Long-War Reality, 1915-16 7. Survival 8. A Sea-Change, 1917 9. The Last Levy, 1917-18 10. Operation Michael: The 'Last Card' 11. Defeat, 1918-19 Bibliography Index

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