World War I

by Nicola Barber

Overview

Why was the First World War so devastating, and how had Europe become so divided into armed camps? How did it affect people on both sides of the conflict, and why are its consequences still felt today? This book seeks to relate the overall events and chronology of the war and shows its impact on everyday lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781484611630
Publisher:	Heinemann
Publication date:	07/01/2014
Series:	Living Through... Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	80
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	12 - 16 Years

About the Author

As well as writing about lost cities, Nicola Barber has  written books on the modern-day cities of Tokyo and Los Angeles. She has also written about many periods of history, from the Vikings to the Victorians. Nicola lives in North Wales.

Table of Contents

The War's Origins 4

1914 10

The Daredanelles and Gallipoli 18

The Eastern Front 22

The War at Sea 28

The Western Front 34

The Changing Nature of Warefare 42

The United States Enters the war 48

The Home Front 54

The end of the war 60

What have we learned? 66

Timeline 68

Glossary 70

Notes on Sources 73

Bibliography 76

Find out more 77

Index 79

Editorial Reviews

World War I claimed over ten million human lives, devastated much of Europe, and set the stage for the eventual rise of dictatorial governments in Italy, Germany, and Russia. For four years the armed forces of Germany, France, England, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Turkey, and Russia waged destructive war in ways that could not even be imagined before the first battle. Eventually, other nations, inclusive of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and many other lands, were also drawn into the cauldron of battle. In the end, World War I resulted in a victory for the Allied powers but at a cost so high that it marred European civilization in ways that persist to the present day. It is the story of the vastly destructive conflict that was eventually renamed World War I after an even greater conflict occurred in 1939, which is told in this volume of the "Living Through" series. Like other books in the illustrated parent series, this book is designed to afford readers an overview of the critical elements of a historically significant conflict. In this instance, topics such as the weaponry, tactics, human cost of battle, and social upheavals attendant to the war are all touched upon with clarity and skill. In addition, subjects such as the role of women in the war, propaganda, and the misalignment of the Peace Treaty of Versailles all are presented in ways that will augment the reader's knowledge. This book is a reasonable introduction to a vast historical subject and will help younger readers to better understand World War I. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck

Children's Literature - Greg M. Romaneck

The "Living Through" series details the chronology and chief players in several major wars. In World War I, Barber explains the European political powder keg of the late 1800s and the turn of the last century before telling of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The conflict's origins are convoluted and messy, but Barber is able to provide a clear explanation. The Mexican-American War lays out a fascinating narrative of manifest destiny and western expansion. While the war was immensely popular with the American population, critics considered it the only war the United States has ever declared on a sovereign country with the idea of taking over their land. Students will be interested in the parallels between the immigration issues surrounding that war and the current debates about the same subject. Each book provides a "What Have We Learned" chapter which shows how the historical information affects current world diplomacy. The books provide overviews of the conflicts in a concise and easy-to-read format. Numerous sidebars and personal narratives add more content and will appeal to students. Many of the wars in the series are not cover in standard social studies curriculums, which may limit their use in the classroom; however, they are sure to be popular with fans of military history and would provide a strong source for reports or independent study. (Living Through) Reviewer: Katie Mitchell

VOYA - Katie Mitchell