The Diva Review:
This review is courtesy of our favorite guest reviewer, Lore. He reads a lot of the stuff that I just don't.
I know what you're thinking… how can anyone enjoy reading about World War I. And it is not even the whole war; it is only the very first month. That is where Barbara Tuchman comes in! She was an incredible storyteller, able to blend documented facts together to make them intriguing and interesting. Don't just take my word on this one, Ms. Tuchman won the Pulitzer Prize for this book (as well as another, but that is a different review).
A lot of things happened in August of 1914 when Europe exploded into war. But the reasons why this war happened were very complex and deeply set in the histories and alliances of the participating nations and their leaders. Ms. Tuchman takes these myriad details and ties them together in a neat package that is easily understood and fun to read. Even more, the participants come alive with the emotions and élan that they were feeling during this time period. Not many history books can say they capture this aspect of the history they detail.
This book reads like something that Tom Clancy would write and it was written in 1962! From the analysis of Plan XVII vs Schlieffen Plan to the exciting pursuit of Goeben and Breslau through the Mediterranean Sea, Ms.
Tuchman makes the events real and exciting. So exciting, you might forget you are actually reading a Non-Fiction book. The ironic part is that the sheer detail that we are told about the events is well contrasted by the lack of details the participants had at the time which ultimately caused this bloody conflict.
I wonder if The Diva would consider me telling you that Germany eventually loses the war in 1918 as a spoiler?
Editor's Note: A real laugh riot as always, A.C.
|
|
|
Diva Interviews