Synopses & Reviews
The beginning of the nineteenth century marked the peak of Western imperial power. After subjugating inferior peoples in distant lands, the European states turned inward in an unparalleled orgy of self-destruction that began in 1914 and did not end until1945. A remarkable achievement, The Great War revolutionizes our understanding of the First World War by placing it squarely in the context of Western imperialism. Distinguished historian John H. Morrow, Jr. shows how a worldview saturated in aggression and fear--coupled with intellectual trends such as social Darwinism and eugenics--unleashed disastrous consequences. With particular attention to race, class, and gender issues, Morrow traces the conflict from origins to aftermath to provide the first truly global history of the war, one that emphasizes the experiences of soldiers in all theaters (Africans, Turks, etc.), as well as citizens on the many home fronts. Looking beyond the brutal trench warfare, Morrow argues that the war was won not in the fields of France but in the cold waters of the Atlantic, where blockades starved the central powers into submission.
Powerfully written, yet concise and comprehensive, The Great War is the definitive new history of the conflict that illustrates the destabilizing effects of imperialism on both the colonizers and the colonized.
Synopsis
Publication to coincide with Veteran's DayComprehensive and chronological, covering all fronts and home fronts in each year of the warPays particular attention to the common soldier and civilian as well as race, class and gender issuesThe first truly global history, placing the First World War in the trajectory of the Western imperialist enterpriseIncludes neglected theaters such as the African and Ottoman battlefields
Synopsis
The Great War is a landmark history that firmly places the First World War in the context of imperialism. Set to overturn conventional accounts of what happened during this, the first truly international conflict, it extends the study of the First World War beyond the confines of Europe and the Western Front.
By recounting the experiences of people from the colonies especially those brought into the war effort either as volunteers or through conscription, John Morrow's magisterial work also unveils the impact of the war in Asia, India and Africa.
From the origins of World War One to its bloody (and largely unknown) aftermath, The Great War is distinguished by its long chronological coverage, first person battle and home front accounts, its pan European and global emphasis and the integration of cultural considerations with political.