Book Review: "The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War, by Peter Hart."

 "The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War. Peter Hart. Oxford University Press, New York, 2013." 

    Peter Hart’s, The Great War is an excellent historical account of the Great War or World War 1. Hart wrote a superb narrative that follows the events that led up to World War 1 and the major timeline of the war itself. The book includes accounts of the Western Front, the Eastern Front, naval campaigns, the Middle East (including Mesopotamia and Palestine.)  Hart utilizes sources from both a top-down and bottom-up perspective of the war.  Thus, he enriches the story telling elements for his readers by making the two elements meet in the middle.

    Hart mentions the important players of British, French, and German high commands. He describes Erich Von Ludendorff, Douglas Haig, Sir John French, Joesef Joffre, and numerous other generals in copious detail.  He provided both criticisms and praise for their various military engagements while trying to maintain a neutral stance on their abilities as leaders.  His use of low-ranking military sources gave a more in-depth depictions of the battlefield.  The sources on the ground were almost poetic in their descriptions of the death and destruction that took place in Europe during that period in the early 20th century.  

    Hart’s detailed description of the weapons of the war demonstrates a deep attention to detail.  The Maxim machine gun, for example, becomes a memorable tool of warfare throughout the telling of the wartime narrative.  From artillery to chemical weapons, Hart is able to incorporate each of the then novel invention of death as part of chronological depiction of mankind’s need to eviscerate itself.  The reader can get a visceral account of how these weapons might have appeared on the battlefield with intriguing detail.  While they are detailed and descriptive, the accounts of battle are not overly gory or centered around creating a nauseating experience for the reader.

    Photographs were also included in the book to give a visual aid to the reader that can contribute to a more accurate telling of the events of the Great War.  Hart included pictures of the battlefield, which featured the war-ravaged countryside of France and Belgium.  The author inserted photographs of key political and military leaders which are also included so the reader could find it to be a more immersive book.  Additionally, there are pictures of weapons, vehicles, and trench fortifications are present in an order that was chronological yet organic.   As is typical in many such narratives, his book places the photographs in the center of the book where they can be referred back to with ease.

    Peter Hart more than effectively captures the horror and despair of the Great War.  His storytelling mastery is revealed through each page in his work.  This book has potential to give a war time account that most of the public would find palatable.  While this book might not be suitable to more serious peer reviewed academic writing, it is still a useful tool to refer back to for a general guide for someone studying the war in depth.  The book also has certain potential for amateur scholars looking to incorporate a valuable secondary source to their own work.

    As a military history, the book, however, fails to provide cultural context to the Great War.  The events of the war are merely isolated to combat with just a smidge of political pretext.  While no author can realistically capture all aspects and facets of life that war touches, this book remains mostly combat related.  The book also minimizes the role played by the United States in turning the tide of the wars to the Allied Powers.  There is barely a mention of John Pershing and the "doughboy's" role in the war.  The United States was referred to as merely a source of fresh, well-fed bodies.  

    Overall, I found Hart’s work to be an invigorating read that kept my interest the whole way through.  His descriptions of naval campaigns leave something to be desired, as there are many nautical terms that the layperson might find confusing or disorienting.  Average and academic alike can at least gain some kind of insight because of Hart’s work.  I would recommend taking the time to read through the book, as I am certain, you would not be disappointed.