| Read about the history of the Great War in November 1918 by Gordon Brook-Shepherd
The Armistice was the result of a hurried and desperate process, and brought an end to four years of bloodshed. The account of this Great War portrayed in November 1918 spans the last hundred days of the conflict; from the surprise blow struck by the British at Amiens on 8 August, down to the signing of the document three months later. For the first time all of the sub-plots in the story are given their proper weight and the triumphs and tragedies are told in the words of the actors themselves, humble and mighty. Mr Brook-Shepherd’s original eye-witness sources range from the eighty-nine-year-old former Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary (the last surviving member of Europe’s old ruling order), to private soldiers who fought on both sides of the barbed wire. In describing the death of Old Europe and the suicide of the Empires, the author provides a far-reaching overview of the new world order that dawned in November 1918 with the breadth and detail of his research, his extended reach across all four of the war-fronts, and his remarkable understanding of European history. The result is a panorama rich in colour and human interest which provides a background to the events of that year, and essential lessons for readers today. |
Bloomsbury Reader 