"The First World War was the defining event of the twentieth century. No previous war matched it in scale, brutality and futility. This impressive book moves beyond a more military narrative to offer a much fuller analysis of the conflict and its impact: military, strategic, political, economic, financial, social and cultural. This is a powerful, bold, and original book which complements the many detailed accounts of the campaigns themselves Starting with the context and origins of the war, including assassination and misunderstanding and different national war-aims," The Great War, 1914-1918" then covers the treacherous course of the conflict, and the social impact of mobilization. The role of science and technology from aircraft to intelligence and the disastrous long-term legacy of the war are also explored. In" The Great War, 1914-1918," the reach is expansive: Ian Beckett shows how a European war came to embrace Japan, China, the Ottoman Empire, and Latin America, as well as the dominions and colonies of the British Empire and finally, of course, the USA. Those interested in European history or history of the First World War. Also available in Hardcover - 0-582-40473-8, $ 79.95Y.