The Price of Glory: Verdun 1916: Revised Edition by Sir Alistair Horne
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(Paperback - REV)
- Pub. Date: January 1994
- 388pp
- Sales Rank: 66,100
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: January 1994
- Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
- Format: Paperback, 388pp
- Sales Rank: 66,100
- Series: Penguin History Series
- ISBN-13: 9780140170412
- ISBN: 0140170413
- Edition Number: 1
- Edition Description: REV
Synopsis
This book is more than a chronicle of the facts of battle. It is a profoundly moving, sympathetic study of the men who fought at Verdun, and it also shows that Verdun is a key to understanding the First World War--a key to the minds of those who waged it, to the traditions that bound them, and to the world that created them. Continuously in print for over thirty years, this unabridged edition contains a new preface and additional photographs.
Annotation
The 10-month-long battle of Verdun, a turning point in Western civilization, is presented in detail.
Customer Reviews
Price of Glory: Verdun, 1916by Anonymous
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October 13, 2004: By all accounts, this book is a classic and is widely quoted in most contemporary books on World War I. The author, Alistair Horne, does a suberb job analyzing and reporting the entire terrifying, brutal battle. Horne starts off by first by explaining the French army's proclivity for reckless offensive action, despite its abysmal record since the war's beginning. Then Horne examines Falkenhayn and his reason for choosing the attrition strategy, i.e. the impossibility of decisive breakthrough on the Western Front. (Incidentally, Falkenhayn's breakthrough assessment -not strategy - was probably correct. A war-winning breakthrough on the Western Front was a mirage for the entire war.) The book outlines the German's extensive and rapid build up of human and material resources and their careful security measures. But most importantly, each of the leaders (Falkenhayn, Joffre, Crown Prince, Knobelsdorf, de Castelnau, Petain, Neville, Mangin) involved is thoughtfully evaluated and their actions involved in the battle scrutinized. With these critical elements in place, Horne then goes on to give a blow-by-blow account of all the important actions ( during the siege-like battle. The most fascinating account involves the capture of Fort Vaux; Raynal and his French defenders fanatically defied the Germans' in a week's worth of unbelievably desperate underground fighting. Horne's outstanding book is probably the best battle account of World War I, well-researched and engagingly written. The book has a few maps and several photos which show the battleground and the principal military leaders. Horne gives Petain credit for his vital logistical groundwork in initially organizing woefully inadequate French defenses. He also shows us that Knobelsdorf, the Crown Prince's chief-of-staff, was the real villain who refused to call off the German attacks despite massive casualties and lack of progress. The book ends by giving a brief history of each of the leaders after the battle, which I found very satisfying. I heartily recommend this excellent book!
Price of Glory: Verdun, 1916by Anonymous
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February 02, 2000: Probably the standard work on the savage Battle of Verdun. Horne writes a lucid and very readable history on a complicated battle with its attendant complicated issues.This work may only prove the point that most leaders of the 1914-1918 military mind set were modern neanderthals--little difference from the cave-man days. The monumental stupidity on both sides are clearly retold with the resultant appalling loss of life. All wars are bad in itself, but the First World War can stand out as the pinnacle of industrial progress which were not match by progressive military tactics. This is truly tragic history where the era's 'flower of youth and manhood' were sacrificed in the altar of national pride, national honor and national glory. The one balancing act that probably need be done in this remarkable work be would be more additional footage on the German side--sometimes it is too one sided. This does not detract in its marvellous telling of an unnecessary battle into great history.
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