Book Description
“An eminently readable, visually compelling overview and summary of . . . one of the greatest world-shaping events of the twentieth century,” World War I (David Stone, author of The Kaiser’s Army). This beautiful and evocative book gives an illustrated overview of the First World War, on land, on sea, and in the air. With original drawings in full color, Steven Patricia uses thirty years’ experience as a historical illustrator to give an informative and insightful account of the war, portraying the human faces of the participants and capturing moments in time with a vividness and immediacy that brings home both the emotional impact and the tragedy of war. Accompanied by soldiers’ diary extracts and other contemporary literature, there are many drawings of the hardware of war: aircraft and airships, submarines and ships, guns and grenades. We also get a glimpse of weary officers relaxing in an RAF mess, see panicking sailors swimming desperately away from a sinking ship, soldiers stumbling across no-man’s-land, and the dramatic scene of one of last great cavalry charges of any war, in Egypt. The role of animals is featured, including the importance of horses and rescue and messenger dogs. The text gives a concise introduction to the events of the war and why it started, with maps of the different fronts where fighting took place and a diagram of a trench system. “With an emphasis on showing the humanity of soldiers and the emotions of war, this illustrated overview is designed especially for those with little previous knowledge of the Great War.” —ProtoView
