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Original Essays | April 29, 2013

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The Guns of August

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The Guns of August Cover

ISBN13: 9780345476098
ISBN10: 0345476093
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Tuchman has brought to life again the people and events that led up to World War I. With attention to fascinating detail, and an intense knowledge of her subject and its characters, Ms. Tuchman reveals, for the first time, just how the war started, why, and why it could have been stopped but wasn't. A classic historical survey of a time and a people we all need to know more about, The Guns of August will not be forgotten.

Review:

"A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill's statement that the first month of World War I was 'a drama never surpassed.' A writer with an impeccable sense of telling detail, Mrs. Tuchman is able to evoke both the enormous pattern of the tragedy and the minutiae which make it human." Newsweek

Review:

"Fascinating . . . One of the finest works of history written . . . A splendid and glittering performance." The New York Times

Review:

"More dramatic than fiction. . . a magnificent narrative . . . elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained . . . The product of painstaking and sophisticated research." Chicago Tribune

Review:

"A beautifully orgnanized, compelling narrative." San Francisco Chronicle

Review:

"An epic never flagging in suspense . . . It seemed hardly possible that anything new of significance could be said about the prelude to and the first month of World War I. But this is exactly what Mrs. Tuchman has succeeded in doing . . . by transforming the drama's protagonists as well as its immense supporting cast, from half-legendary and half shadowy figures into full-dimensional, believable persons." The Christian Science Monitor

Review:

"Excellent. . . [The Guns of August] has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues." The Wall Street Journal

Synopsis:

"More dramtatic than fiction...THE GUNS OF AUGUST is a magnificent narrative--beautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained....The product of painstaking and sophisticated research."

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Tuchman has brought to life again the people and events that led up to Worl War I. With attention to fascinating detail, and an intense knowledge of her subject and its characters, Ms. Tuchman reveals, for the first time, just how the war started, why, and why it could have been stopped but wasn't. A classic historical survey of a time and a people we all need to know more about, THE GUNS OF AUGUST will not be forgotten.

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About the Author

Barbara W. Tuchman achieved prominence as a historian with The Zimmermann Telegram and international fame with The Guns of August, which won the Pulitzer Prize. There followed five more books: The Proud Tower, Stilwell and the American Experience in China (also awarded the Pulitzer Prize), A Distant Mirror, Practicing History, and The March of Folly. The First Salute was Mrs. Tuchman's last book before her death in February 1989.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
Denise Hogan, January 1, 2012 (view all comments by Denise Hogan)
An absolutely fascinating account of the lead-up to to WWI. With all the advantages of hindsight and a wry, blunt assessment of the personalities of players large and small, the author leads us through the mistakes, miscalculations, hubris and courage that started this war and turned it into the years-long slogging trench war that it became.

It's a gripping tale, chock full of oh-so-very-human characters from all sides. The 'what ifs' of this action or that decision abound. I have to admit that for a good way through the book I couldn't shake the idea that the Western powers were in deep, deep trouble. Surely Germany, with its superior planning, manpower and early advantages was going to win. No spoiler here - we all know how it turned out but Tuchman effectively sucks us into the now of the early 20th century and sweeps us along on a grand unfolding saga.

We're introduced to unlikely heroes and cement-footed commanders. And Maps. I do love a book with maps...troop placements...strategic planning... For someone who had never really thought about how exactly one fights a war, i.e., where do you put your troops?, and how many?, how to keep supply lines open and accessible? how in an age before satellites and air reconnaissance do you know what the enemy is doing?, this was an eye-opener.
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Dances With Trout, December 2, 2009 (view all comments by Dances With Trout)
A FABULOUS book by one of my favorite historians. Easily on my "Lifetime Top 20 Books" list. Very important in helping to understand not just the roots of World War I, but for how and why nations go to war in general. I read it perhaps 30 years ago and find myself at Powell's Online buying another copy so I can read it again.
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gwcrews, August 24, 2006 (view all comments by gwcrews)
This is a HORRIBLE book! I had to read it for AP European History, but I tend to like books that teachers require you to read. However, this one was an over-the-top detailed description of the first month of WWI. It seriously will take you a month if you read a chapter a day, and the chapters are extremely long and boring. Oftentime, she delves into pointless military tactics that she assumes you already know. I love history; don't get me wrong! But told through this woman's eyes, history is a bunch of boring facts that somehow conclude to something she sometimes states explicitly. DON'T READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780345476098
Author:
Tuchman, Barbara Wertheim
Publisher:
Presidio Press
Author:
Tuchman, Barbara W.
Author:
Various
Subject:
Military - World War I
Subject:
Alternative History
Subject:
Military - World War II
Edition Description:
Mass market paperback
Publication Date:
20040831
Binding:
MASS MARKET
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
640
Dimensions:
25 x 14 x 7.25 in 20.17 lb
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Related Subjects

History and Social Science » Military » General
History and Social Science » Military » Sale Books
History and Social Science » Military » World War I
History and Social Science » Military » World War I » General
History and Social Science » Western Civilization » 20th Century
History and Social Science » Western Civilization » Historical Reference
History and Social Science » World History » 1650 to Present

The Guns of August Used Mass Market
0 stars - 0 reviews
$5.50 In Stock
Product details 640 pages Presidio Press - English 9780345476098 Reviews:
"Review" by , "A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill's statement that the first month of World War I was 'a drama never surpassed.' A writer with an impeccable sense of telling detail, Mrs. Tuchman is able to evoke both the enormous pattern of the tragedy and the minutiae which make it human."
"Review" by , "Fascinating . . . One of the finest works of history written . . . A splendid and glittering performance."
"Review" by , "More dramatic than fiction. . . a magnificent narrative . . . elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained . . . The product of painstaking and sophisticated research."
"Review" by , "A beautifully orgnanized, compelling narrative."
"Review" by , "An epic never flagging in suspense . . . It seemed hardly possible that anything new of significance could be said about the prelude to and the first month of World War I. But this is exactly what Mrs. Tuchman has succeeded in doing . . . by transforming the drama's protagonists as well as its immense supporting cast, from half-legendary and half shadowy figures into full-dimensional, believable persons."
"Review" by , "Excellent. . . [The Guns of August] has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues."
"Synopsis" by , "More dramtatic than fiction...THE GUNS OF AUGUST is a magnificent narrative--beautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained....The product of painstaking and sophisticated research."

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Tuchman has brought to life again the people and events that led up to Worl War I. With attention to fascinating detail, and an intense knowledge of her subject and its characters, Ms. Tuchman reveals, for the first time, just how the war started, why, and why it could have been stopped but wasn't. A classic historical survey of a time and a people we all need to know more about, THE GUNS OF AUGUST will not be forgotten.
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