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Lynx-lynx · 07-01-2014, 08:21 PM

I'm also reading on WWI at the moment (and have been reading about the history of the middle east generally in a very sporadic way over the last year or so).

I had a serendipitous moment on Sunday when I read Christopher Clark's 'The
Spark in the Tinderbox' on the same day that the events he described occurred 100 years previously. (And hadn't realised until after I'd finished it that it was the same date!). It's about the events of that fateful day in Sarajevo, and starts with Franz Jospeh arriving at the train station and finishes with some of the aftermath investigation. There were so many stuff ups in coordination from the point of view of the assassins as well as the 'minders' and bureaucracy that it seems 'fate' did play a part ....

This publication is sold as a 'book' but it's really an essay and is only 49 pages, and without a bibliography and references. Which is really very odd and clearly must relate to the publishers whims because Clark is a historian of note, and I have read several of his books on the history of the middle east which do all have references and a bibliography. He is an author whose opinion I admire. (PS if you get the book from Kobo India you'll be able to use a discount voucher)

Another essay sized book I read was Bill Price's 'Spies of the First World War', and it's 78 pages and again without references or a bibliography. The writing is nowhere near in the same league as Clark, and appears to be gossipy in part, rather than merely factual. Still, reading it has given me some appreciation of who was spying, their country of origin, and some of their methodology.

I am currently reading Margaret MacMillan's 'The War that Ended Peace' and she is an excellent researcher and writer. (I previously read her 'Peacemakers' and by golly she puts across a zillion facts but she adds humour and the who's up who and who's paying the rent factor as well!!)

So far I'm about 75 pages in and I have the feel for the era from say 1890 forwards, however there will be later chapters which go back further and so one gets the world environment from different time spans, which to my thinking is essential.

I also have Christopher Clark's 'The Sleepwalkers' and two of Sean McMeekin's, 'July 1914 Countdown to War' and 'The Berlin Baghdad Express' which I will read in due course.

Over the course of the next few years I intend to read a number of WWI books, and leading up to April 1915 those particularly dealing with Gallipoli where Churchill stuffed up and sent many Aus, NZ and UK men to their deaths. (April 25 is regarded our National Day of Mourning for soldiers of all wars as a result of the catastrophe at Gallipoli)

Anyway, I would be interested if over time people kept updating this thread as to what they're reading/have read on WWI. Thanks for starting it Anemic Oak

07-01-2014, 08:21 PM	#5
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,144 Karma: 94320195 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2, Libra Colour	I'm also reading on WWI at the moment (and have been reading about the history of the middle east generally in a very sporadic way over the last year or so). I had a serendipitous moment on Sunday when I read Christopher Clark's 'The Spark in the Tinderbox' on the same day that the events he described occurred 100 years previously. (And hadn't realised until after I'd finished it that it was the same date!). It's about the events of that fateful day in Sarajevo, and starts with Franz Jospeh arriving at the train station and finishes with some of the aftermath investigation. There were so many stuff ups in coordination from the point of view of the assassins as well as the 'minders' and bureaucracy that it seems 'fate' did play a part .... This publication is sold as a 'book' but it's really an essay and is only 49 pages, and without a bibliography and references. Which is really very odd and clearly must relate to the publishers whims because Clark is a historian of note, and I have read several of his books on the history of the middle east which do all have references and a bibliography. He is an author whose opinion I admire. (PS if you get the book from Kobo India you'll be able to use a discount voucher) Another essay sized book I read was Bill Price's 'Spies of the First World War', and it's 78 pages and again without references or a bibliography. The writing is nowhere near in the same league as Clark, and appears to be gossipy in part, rather than merely factual. Still, reading it has given me some appreciation of who was spying, their country of origin, and some of their methodology. I am currently reading Margaret MacMillan's 'The War that Ended Peace' and she is an excellent researcher and writer. (I previously read her 'Peacemakers' and by golly she puts across a zillion facts but she adds humour and the who's up who and who's paying the rent factor as well!!) So far I'm about 75 pages in and I have the feel for the era from say 1890 forwards, however there will be later chapters which go back further and so one gets the world environment from different time spans, which to my thinking is essential. I also have Christopher Clark's 'The Sleepwalkers' and two of Sean McMeekin's, 'July 1914 Countdown to War' and 'The Berlin Baghdad Express' which I will read in due course. Over the course of the next few years I intend to read a number of WWI books, and leading up to April 1915 those particularly dealing with Gallipoli where Churchill stuffed up and sent many Aus, NZ and UK men to their deaths. (April 25 is regarded our National Day of Mourning for soldiers of all wars as a result of the catastrophe at Gallipoli) Anyway, I would be interested if over time people kept updating this thread as to what they're reading/have read on WWI. Thanks for starting it Anemic Oak Last edited by Lynx-lynx; 07-01-2014 at 11:25 PM.