A clear and concise history of the important events and details of WW1. Very helpful for those who, like me, went to high schools that skimped heavily on what exactly the first world war was all about (Franz Ferdinand shot! Trench warfare! Mustard gas! OKAY, ON TO WORLD WAR TWO, CHILDREN!). Some more definitions of key terms would have been helpful, though. ( )

This is truly a short introduction to the First World War. It covers a lot of history in a brief book. It is cogent and hits the important points. The emphasis is on the Wesernt front and little less attention is given to the other areas of combat. It was published in 2002, and, therefore, does not include the scholarship that emerged in the centennial of the war. The "Further Reading" is a disappointment. ( )

I mean, does exactly what it says on the tin--it's a very short introduction to WWI, with special focus on the military aspects of the war (aka 'the things I find most boring about history'.) It did I guess have like... a section of a chapter dedicated to "homefront life" so good it on that front? I didn't find it super interesting, but someone who wants that military history crash course would probably like it way better than I did. ( )

Brief but wonderfully written, leaving me with some idea not only of where things happened but why and how, and I think I will now have the patience to absorb a more detailed account. Subsequently reprinted as part of the "A Very Short Introduction" series from Oxford. ( )

I decided to read this before undertaking a short course about WW1 just to have a taste of some of the most important events that transpired during the conflict.

The author does a good job; however, the limited number of pages means he’s greatly limited to what he can include from such a large subject. As a result, I found it hard to get into.

Really a topic of this nature is not ideal for “a very short” anything. ( )