The Pity Of War Explaining World War I [Paperback]

 

 

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Ferguson's book is interesting for its voluminous stats, fresh approach and determination to be controversial. Behind criticism of previous interpretations of the causes of the First World War, Ferguson mounts an inadequate case for various propositions. Often he advances contentions that are downright silly, Russia the most efficient war maker of 1914-1918 ? Russia, a country without adequate supplies of just about anything ? Where its soldiers were deprived of all the staples of war, and whose government abdicated its reponsibilities to the zemstvos ? Even more laughable is the idea that Germany and the Central Powers came out of the war comparatively lightly because of their debt portfolio in the 1920s. By being selective about the first hand accounts of the time, economic indicators, and the like the author purports to show a "new" picture of WW1. Some times he alludes to previous interpretations, uses selective evidence and "demolishes" them. It is not convincing. For example, he stresses economic reasons for the success of early recruitment in the UK which simultaneously depreciating emotional or patriotic reasons for the same. As I came from a country (i.e Australia) which sent 8% of its entire population overseas, including my grandfather,to fight in Europe without conscription or real economic encouragement, it is difficult to accept the economic explanation for the recruitment "boom" in 1914. Similarly, the remarkable level of recruitment in the "white" Dominions during the War is indicative of emotional, rather than commercial, reasons for volunteering. Whilst the author harps on Germany's inferior economic resources, lack of martial spirit and the preponderance of Entente force, he conveniently forgets the German advantages of interior lines of communication, superiority in training and organisation and position that effectively negated the Entente's advantage for four years. Where Ferguson fails, perhaps, most miserably, is his inability to effectively explain why the German Reich lost after the Kaiserschlacht. If the German Army was so effective, why did it after August 8, 1918 start to disintegrate ? John Terraine's explanation, in "To win a war", is both more satisfying and well-founded. The presence of US forces was not crucial, the actual numbers in the field were far inferior to the Anglo-French. Germany did not come out ahead after WW1, the political systems in France and the British Empire were relatively undisturbed yet in Germany the entire edifice of the State collapsed. Ferguson claims Britain lost more territory and wealth after the War than Germany by confusing the Irish settlement with the Versailles Treaty- which is mendacious. For a new persceptive of the economics of the war this book has some merit. For the attempt to re-define the conventional picture of a warlike Europe being propelled into armageddon by foolish error rather than deliberate aggression, the book also has some merit. However, for its "trendy" revisionist idea that somehow Britain caused the carnage of the War by saving France from inevitable defeat (and thus is somehow more "guilty" than Germany) this will simply not wash.

The world needs a lot more Niall Fergusons and Howard Zinns to rewrite history and eliminate historical lies taught in schools until today, especially but not only the Roman and US-history needs a lot of rewrite.

Ferguson does it again. One of the best historians of our generation applies his wits to THE tragic event of the twentieth century. In this extraordinary piece of scholarship you will learn about the "mechanisms" (both social, economic, political and diplomatic) behind WWI. If you want a general history about the war, that follows a strict timeline of the battles, without any analysis, read another book first. But if you want to think hard about the causes and effects of the Great War, there is no better place than the Pity of War.

Ferguson is not only an extraordinarily serious historian. The economics, sociology and military analysis in the book are first rate. A great contribution.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Very thought provoking and fun read
This is a great book that takes a look at the Western European world that opted for war in 1914. The chapters are very interesting and fact filled and in the end the book produces... Read more

Published on Sep 20 2009 by RCP

3.0 out of 5 stars Revisionist history by a master historian
Niall Ferguson is arguably one of the best and brightest historians of his generation. As such, his _Pity of War_ is a new interpretation of one of the seminal events in the last... Read more

Published on Nov 29 2003 by doc peterson

5.0 out of 5 stars Great History!
From the same author I had already red "The Cash Nexus" and had been very favourably impressed both for the readability and the argument (usually a mix of history and economics,... Read more

Published on Sep 12 2003 by Amore Roberto

4.0 out of 5 stars "A refreshing variant on an otherwise sterile debate"
I was not expecting to like this book. In fact, I very nearly avoided it altogether based on the overwhelmingly negative reviews by some of the leading scholars of strategic... Read more

Published on July 11 2003 by T. Graczewski

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed this book a lot
An easy read despite it's length. I found this book very compelling. The author is not a true expert on this subject and I've read some minor criticisms of this work. Read more

Published on May 22 2003 by Mike Riley

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine contrarian history
From the History Channel to Barbara Tuchman every account of World War I describes the ecstatic patriotic fervor that swept England, France, Russia, and Germany in August 1914... Read more

Published on Mar 15 2003 by Michael Oppenheim

2.0 out of 5 stars Pity and Ulterior Motives
ï¿It was worse than a tragedy,ï¿ Niall Ferguson concludes in his analysis of the First World War. Read more

Published on Mar 5 2003 by Si Sheppard

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
Like other reviewers here, I have my doubts about whether Ferguson's analysis is correct but his book absolutely should be read if for no other reason than the critical analysis... Read more

Published on Jan 5 2002

3.0 out of 5 stars Detailed and controversial economic history of World War I
Niall Ferguson got headlines for what would have otherwise been a book for specialists of World War I when he included arguments that Britain should not have entered the war. Read more

Published on Oct 16 2001 by R. H OAKLEY

5.0 out of 5 stars a vital corrective to institutional liberal history
Nothing has so warped our understanding of the 20th Century as the unfortunate fact that America's wars were, in Bob Dole's felicitous phrase, "Democrat Wars. Read more

Published on May 23 2001 by Orrin C. Judd

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