The First World War, 2014
European History in Perspective Series

This is a timely new study of the Great War, a hundred years on. The First World War not only provides an invaluable introduction to the topic but also deals with the changing perspectives of, and attitudes towards, the war and its place in national and international memories.

This clear and concise volume demonstrates the strategies of the combatants, the changing nature of warfare, the failures and achievements of military commanders and the impact of new weaponry. It leads you through the debates surrounding the war, from its causes through to its consequences, looking at the subject from a twenty-first century perspective. Rather than simply focusing on military history, Purdue pulls in strands of the diplomatic, political and economic dimensions of conflict, making this an ideal introduction to the First World War for both students and general readers.

Maps.- Introduction.- 1. Why Did It Begin?.- 2. How the War Began.- 3. War Fever?.- 4. Elusive Victory.- 5. The Widened War.- 6. Home Fronts and the Test of War.- 7. The Problems of the Offensive.- 8. 1916, The Killing Fields.- 9. 1917, Germany's Victory in the East.- 10. The War at Sea.- 11. The Final Struggle.- 12. The Peace that Did Not Bring an End to War.- Conclusion: The War in European Memory.- Notes.- Select Bibliography.- Index.

A. W. Purdue is Visiting Professor in History at the University of Northumbria, UK, and a Visiting Reader at the Open University, UK. He is the author of the highly successful The Second World War.

Very timely new introduction to WWI to mark the centenary of the war
Concise and approachable, ideal for those new to the subject
Purdue is a recognised authority in the field and author of the successful volume on the Second World War in the same series