History, Politics And Current Affairs

Looking for recommendations for good books on world history covering the 1870-1914 period.

Nick Sumner wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 12:06 pm Looking for recommendations for good books on world history covering the 1870-1914 period.

Anything more specific?

It’s so broad, you’re only going to get some really surface level stuff if you’re not more specific.

Barbara Tuchman, The Proud Tower.

Robert Massie, Dreadnought.

Poohbah wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2024 5:18 pm Barbara Tuchman, The Proud Tower.

Robert Massie, Dreadnought.

Both are good, though Proud Tower definitely just scratches the surface and leaves you wanting more, which is what a general primer should do.

Thank you!

I suspect the bibliographies of both books will be useful.

If you want to read well written history and are not afraid to bury the odd cliché about Prussia and Prussians, read "The Iron Kingdom" by Christopher Clark. The period between 1871 and 1914 is well covered.

Same with The Sleepwalkers, same author. Since he is an obvious Germanophile (studied in Germany, is married to a German and speaks German near perfectly), some of his conclusions might garner a raised eyebrow or six because they often go against long established Anglo narratives (or rather spin in some cases), but his sourcework is immaculate.

Currently reading Bismarck's War by Rachel Chrastil. It's a decent account of the Franco-Prussian War.

Not in your stated time frame, but I just finished The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors by Dan Jones. Not bad, but not the greatest either.

Blood and Iron: The Rise and Fall of the German Empire 1871–1918 by Katja Hoyer covers the period well, IMVHO.

I’m not convinced by The Sleepwalkers central thesis, btw. A lot of the decisions in 1914 were taken with the knowledge that war was likely. IMVHO, Europe did not really sleepwalk into war.

Bernard Woolley wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 12:52 am Blood and Iron: The Rise and Fall of the German Empire 1871–1918 by Katja Hoyer covers the period well, IMVHO.

I’m not convinced by The Sleepwalkers central thesis, btw. A lot of the decisions in 1914 were taken with the knowledge that war was likely. IMVHO, Europe did not really sleepwalk into war.

I suspect it was the exact opposite - they all “knew” war was inevitable, and so a lot of the decisions to go to war (especially by the Austrians, but also a lot by the Germans) were based on the calculation that the strategic position would only get worse, so better war now than war later. They were also all very well aware that war was inevitable once mobilization began.

Certainly the Serbs killed the loudest voice for peace in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and so the rest pretty much decided on national suicide by war instead of slow decline. Which is probably the biggest reason WWI exploded when it did, unlike with other European crises (Russo-Turkish, Moroccan) which were addressed by international conferences.

Which is a good example of Guinan’s addage that a man convinced he’s going to die tomorrow will generally find a way, because the Austrians were the “Great” power with the absolute least business going to war.

Both Wawro and Bruittar have very good works on Galicia in 1914, and there’s a very good book on Premzyl called “the Fortress.”

For the big British colonial shindigs, I heartily recommend anything by Dr. Colonel (or is it Colonel the Doctor?) Mike Snook. I’m working through his account of the Nile Expedition now, and he’s got a lot of new material.

I’m reading a book on the British Invasion of Egypt in 1882, which doesn’t have much modern written on it.

I like Thomas Packenham’s primer “The Scramble for Africa.” I have his “The Boer War” as well, which is a good primer on how the war was caused.

Douglas Porch has written the major English language works on the French empire in Morocco and the Sahara. Again, not as much there.

“King Leopold’s Ghost” is pretty much required for the Congo.

Thanks again!