The Guns of August

Written in 1962, this is a fascinating history of the beginnings of WW1 and is the result of a vast amount of research. It's all true, and all documented, and even though it's a dense read, the huge cast of characters springs to life. This is the story of a war that changed the course of history. And it's also a story of the men who make the war. The reader gets to see the blunders and the madness and the personal feuds. And the humanity of the imperfect human beings who make the decisions that result in slaughter.There are maps in the book describing the battles. There are also photographs. But I must admit that I barely looked at the maps. And I found all the photos of the elderly generals very similar. What I did love though was the sweep of the story as well as the many details that go into waging a war. Previously, most war books I've read had to do with the experience of the soldiers. But this book is about the experience of making decisions, often based on folly. And it opened my eyes to how vulnerable the ordinary person is to the whims of the generals and the forces of pure chance. Ms. Tuchman also had a sense of irony and humor and sometimes I found myself laughing out loud.The narrative of the month of August 1914 is described hour by hour. Belgium has to make a decision to accept an awful defeat or willingly allow the Germans to march through their neutral territory. There are alliances in place that are just waiting to be broken. The Russians come into the war. So do the British, even though it is with much reluctance. The basic war is between France and Germany, almost a continuation of the defeat the French suffered at the hands of the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.Before I read this book, I didn't know much about WW1. Now I do. It was a war that defined the breakdown of the European nobility and set the stage for the next war, which was even more horrific. It taught me a lot, especially about how many people wind up dying because of the quest for power. It saddened me too because this quest for power is basic. So is the folly of mankind. The only thing that has changed is technology.This book is a masterful work. It lays the groundwork for an understanding of the mechanics of war. I might not remember all of the names of the generals or the battle plans. But I will always remember the feeling of being right there, watching the decisions being made, marching for miles in spite of fatigue, handling the big guns, making courageous decisions that sometimes led to disaster. And, especially, knowing that this is the true face of war. Highly recommended.

I've read military history most of my life, and this book is definitely a classic. The depth of her research, across several languages, across the seas and across the Western and Eastern fronts, is impressive. To refine all of that research and multiple perspectives into diamond-bright prose makes this book even more remarkable. Military history buffs will definitely want this on their shelves. How have I not read this before?Her chapter on the chase of the Goeben is one of the best naval combat descriptions I have come across. Her section on Tannenberg is also excellent. And through it all, she shows the events that led to the failure of both Plan 17 and the Schlieffen Plan in minute but thorough detail. As I read, and as it ended, I had that rare feeling when I read a book of this quality--give me more! If only she had covered each year of the war with such grasp of character, passion for research, and exquisite storytelling.As usual in such military history works, the political background may be cursory--too cursory for some, given some comments I've seen. Yes, you may have to go elsewhere for such political histories, but then, should we be surprised? The title, after all, is "The GUNS of August," and Tuchman delivers. The focus is not on diplomacy (not that it ever had a chance to develop in 1914, given the treaties that doomed Europe), but on the hopes that the war once started could be won speedily. The mindset of each military, and of each countries' leadership, is well told, and provides ample background for how these battles unfolded.I have a few quibbles, which have more to do with the state of book editing today than Tuchman. First were the typographical errors I found while reading this edition. I can't compare this to other editions in this regard, but a literary achievement such as this deserves to be polished occasionally. Second, while there are maps--good maps that illustrate the action--they did not translate well into paperback, and therefore readers may want a historical atlas to accompany this fine, fine narrative. Lastly, Tuchman seems to like to show off her French, and while her use of sentences from sources add welcome color and character, she was inconsistent in translating them--a strange flaw, given the lengths to which she devoted to writing such a literary monument in her native tongue. Despite these minor faults, it's still a 5-star book.

This book is written on an epic scale. Is like a big board game where all the armies are directed by their leaders. I found out something I was not fully aware of by reading this book, and that was that when a book such as this, extensively researched, and written in the highly competent way in which the very able Barbara W. Tuchman does, it is a serious endeavor to immerse in the pages, and unless one is an avid historian or student of the war, the book might prove a little too tedious to enjoy. There is a big difference between a book such as this, where the story is told from war rooms in the many countries that took part, and the other kind where it goes down to the fighting men level, where one feels their pain and their struggles on the battlefield.The Guns of August is a powerful book never the less, in that is describing the first month of World War 1, but it does it at a higher level of command, not that tragedies and juicy tidbits are not to be found, it is still a sublime effort that deserved the author the Pulitzer Prize, but I had no connection with it in an emotional way, like I have had with incredible books about war I read lately, Flags of our Fathers being a clear example of what I am trying to say, which is without a doubt, one of the finest books I have read on the subject of war, and another clear example of the what the Marines mean to this country. The Guns of August is more like a global approach with the machinations of the generals and leaders, as they deployed their forces to accomplish their strategic plans that will lead them to victory. For those who are studious enough I am sure this powerhouse of a book would be very fulfilling. On the other hand, for those who prefer a more personal approach on a well written book, then this title would not deliver that. 4 Stars.

Fantastic book and so well written

Um excelente livro que retrata passo-a-passo os primeiros e decisivos dias da primeira guerra. Sem adentrar na cruenta e sanguinária "guerra de trincheiras", esse livro foca nos motivos que levaram aos acontecimentos do primeiro conflito mundial.

Como todas las obras de Barbara, extraordinariamente bien documentado. Tal vez su mejor libro. Al menos de los que he leído.

Vine a este libro desde la historia de la crisis de los misiles de Cuba de Max Hastings, este fué el libro que R.Kenedy regaló a McMillan antes de la crisis y que ilustra la relación entre políticos y militares y la subordinación de unos a otros. En este caso son los militares los que llevaron desgraciadamente la voz cantante. Muy interesante y de una cuestión de mucha actualidad siempre.

As other reviews, both on Amazon and elsewhere, have said, this is an amazing book.While it is very much "non-fiction" and, in many ways, "a history book", it is very well written, and very readable. Some of the sentences / paragraphs are incredibly well crafted, and you'll probably learn some new words along the way e.g. tatterdemalion. I loved that one.The level / depth of research behind this book is phenomenal, and to think this 500 pages + represents only the first month of a 4 yrs + war.For me, it has done a few things.First, I feel much more informed about the reasons for the onset of WW1. I had previously heard that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the most important cause for the start of WW1, but I now know that was really only a part of the story. This book outlines the extent to which Germany had been "planning" war, and talking about extending its reach/influence through war, for many years before 1914. I personally had no idea that this was such an important factor or so openly discussed in Germany prior to the war. It also makes an important connection back to a war in 1870, which isn't covered in detail but is clearly a major factor.Second, I now feel better informed about the role Britain played at the start of the war or, to be more precise, the role it didn't play in that first month. As a nation we're brought-up to think we played a huge role in both world wars and, while this isn't disputed as a whole, it seems we didn't entirely cover ourselves in glory in that first month (notwithstanding the fact that we did send thousands of troops, when no other core European nation did, with the exception of Russia).Third, I wasn't really clear how Belgium came into being, and I'm now much clearer on that. I also have a renewed respect for Belgium and the way they stood-up to the initial invasion, in the face of certain defeat, in 1914. Inspiring stuff.Finally, it has reinforced the importance of communication, relationships and trust in any large-scale human endeavour. That these were, in large parts at least, missing on the Allied side in the first month of the war seems clear, though the communication piece can be partly ascribed to the lack of modern technology. It also brings home the fact that, sometimes, "you get what you prepare for" and that, if you prepare enough for bad things to happen, you can sometimes make them happen. That's how it felt to me anyhow.My only criticism is that, at times, I found it extremely difficult to keep in my head the various individuals, battle fronts, town names and situations. At certain points the author gets into such depths on these points that I got lost, and couldn't keep that multi-dimensional view in my head. Probably others will do better.But, overall, I'd highly recommend this book. It's obviously very old (1960s I think), but, as a clear account of that first terrible month, it is excellent to read and very informative indeed. It has left wanting to learn more about WW1, though I'm not sure the next 4 yrs make for particularly happy reading (especially not in the middle of a pandemic...)