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The Guns of August
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The Guns of August
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The Guns of August
Audiobook18 hours

The Guns of August

Written by Barbara W. Tuchman

Narrated by John Lee

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Tuchman has brought to life again the people and events that led up to World War I. With attention to fascinating detail, and an intense knowledge of her subject and its characters, Ms. Tuchman reveals, for the first time, just how the war started, why, and why it could have been stopped but wasn't. A classic historical survey of a time and a people we all need to know more about, The Guns of August will not be forgotten.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherTantor Audio
Release dateMar 28, 2011
ISBN9781452671406
Unavailable
The Guns of August

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Reviews for The Guns of August

Rating: 4.545454545454546 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

132 ratings68 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's conservative in analysis and conclusions, but undeniably a prose masterpiece.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book lived up to every expectation. Robert Massie's introduction set the contedt well. Barbara Tuchman certainly showed that membership of the Academy is not the sole qualification for being a great historian. Her attention to the quality of her prose really sets her apart as she concentrated on telling a story. Many historians get too preoccupied with theory, fashionable terminology and speculation on causation and neglect the art of exposition.
    The story of the first month of World War One is fascinating. Criticism of the book by the likes of Sean McMeekin and Christopher Clark is unfounded and seems almost to be name dropping. I had gained the impression prior to reading the book that it was an exposition on the causes of World War One. It is not, and the events and mechanations of Balkan politics are incidental. This is the story of war leaders and strategy in the first month of the conflict.
    The characters are brilliantly drawn, and the story holds us on the edge of our seats (even knowing the outcome) with Tuchman's prose.
    French's unreliability, the Kaiser's erratic behaviour, Jofre's fixation on Plan 17 to the exclusion of the evidence.
    This is a book difficult to put down. I listened to the Audible edition which was superbly narrated. The accents made it very easy to follow the multinational participants.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    For someone who had always understood World War I as boring, this book was an eye-opener. This is the second World War I book I've read in the past year, and I am getting a better picture of what was going on, and how this massive boondoggle got started. The information is extremely thorough, as you would expect in a 500+ page book that covers only about the first month of the war. It is hard to follow at times, as the narrative moves back and forth, and you have to work to remember what the Russians were doing during the time she is now discussing the British Army. Still, after a short time you get a cast list settled in your head, and that helps to keep at least some things straight. Overall, it was easy enough to follow; I do feel it could have benefited from a bit more brevity, ala Polonius.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A very detailed and surprisingly readable history of the early stages of the Great War, which would later become known as World War One.Before reading this book, most of my knowledge of WW1 was based around the later stages when the war had got bogged down: the privations of the trenches, the horror and futility of some of the battles, and the massive loss of life. I also knew that the war was somehow triggered by the assassination of the Arch Duke Ferdinand, but didn't really understand how or why.This book gave me a much better understanding of the underlying reasons behind the war, and the tensions and alliances at the time which allowed a "damned foolish thing in the Balkans" to provide the spark that led to the war.Some major themes in the book are the obstinacy in sticking to agreed plans and timetables, which often caused missed chances and indirectly led to huge loss of life; the prescience of a few people like Bismarck and Kitchener.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The best World War I history I've read yet. Tuchman paints a clear picture of the age which produced one of the most destructive events of human history. Her military description is superb as she describes step by step how the two sides fought to a standstill within the first 30 days of the war's beginning. A very understandable and enlightening book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Excellent support to investigate the reasons for, and early performance of WW1 in France and Russia
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A detailed telling of the first month of the First World War. I like Tuchmans writing, and I found this to be a fascinating and depressing story. When you start reading at this detailed level, you see more clearly how so much of history is based on chance, just one decision that can change everything. And, of course, the folly of war is reinforced for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book gives a very comprehensive account about the causes and personalities involved in the early WW1 battles and mistakes which lead to the stalemate and trenchlines in WW1. I somewhat disjointed read but overall educational and enjoyable.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Tuchman's Guns of August provides a very thorough overview of the events of the first month of World War I - August 1914. It really is amazing how many things happening in that month and how complicated it all was. I've come to realize that, at least in my experience, as Americans we kind of skim over the early part of the war in school, reading some fiction but not getting too much into the politics, to get to the part where America was involved. I'm not criticizing - I understand that when we only have a limited amount of time to focus on a subject we are much more likely to focus on the part that interests us, the part we were involved in. But, it means that as I was listening I realized that I just kept waiting for Archduke Ferdinand and his wife to be assassinated and kick this whole thing off and then I didn't really know what happened next (note that the Archduke and his wife were assassinated in June 1914 and, therefore, the event was not even covered in this book).I really struggled through this book. I have said it before, but I just do not enjoy reading about battle tactics and war politics. Give me culture! I want to hear how it affected the people! But I also realize that it is important to be aware of how everything went down because these are things that have affected relationships between nations for decades - almost a century now. Sadly, I found some bits and pieces that I discovered in researching about the book much more interesting than the book itself. President John F. Kennedy loved The Guns of August so much that he quoted it often and even commanded his cabinet and military leaders to read it. The book was given the Pulitzer for Non-Fiction instead of History because Pulitzer's will specifically stated that the history winners could only be about American history. I also thought it interesting that it was on the New York Times best seller list for forty-two consecutive weeks. I would have thought it would have such mass appeal, but people will surprise you when given the right time, political climate, and a recommendation from the president.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I am not a very apt student of history, particularly military history. I am also of the generation that grew up in the 80s. World War I was not something I knew much about, apart from having read All Quiet on the Western Front in high school.I also come from a nonmilitary family. However, I had a godfather who was a Tuchman fan as well as an amateur historian and who had worked in the shipyards in Portland in World War II. This is his book. I saw it on my mother's shelves a couple of months ago (my godfather having passed away in 1993) and something made me ask to borrow it. This book was not easy for me to read. My brain does not keep up with troop movements and logistics, I don't understand military theories, and I am a lifelong pacifist. I kept feeling an overwhelming sense of doom, since I knew that this story of the first month of World War I was going to end with the pieces in place for the horrible trench warfare that lasted four years and caused so many deaths.However, I could not stop reading it, and even when it saddened me to the point that I left it for weeks at a time, I had to go back to it. This is for two reasons. The first is that I feel a sense of duty to learn more about the war that set the pattern for the terrible, blood-drenched 20th century. The second is that Barbara Tuchman is such a compelling writer.The book hurled me (I was going to say "the reader," but it occurs to me that not all readers may react as emotionally as I do) between anger and frustration - with the various military leaders. for their adherence to what seemed to me to be insane military theories - and extreme admiration mixed with sadness - for sometimes those very same military leaders, but also civilians, who behaved with great courage and did truly great things. These were people I'd never heard of. It is shameful to me that I knew so little about them. King Albert of Belgium, for example - what an inspiring leader. And the taxi drivers of Paris who transported the soldiers to the Marne - Tuchman says in her Afterward, "Of course all the world knows about the taxi drivers," but I am afraid not.This book chastened me and saddened me. I feel that I am a different person for having read it - definitely wiser, if not happier.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Although much of this book was difficult for me to follow, I was impressed by it. I expected it to be a general history of World War I, and was surprised to discover it is actually an analysis--give or take a few days--of the first month of the war, the days before the stasis of trench warfare. Despite the fact that it is is a book of military tactics and political analysis, Tuchman has the talent of a novelist. She brings the war to life through surprising anecdotes, haunting images, and piercing, though subtle, quips of wisdom.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In depth description and analysis of the first month of World War I. This groundbreaking work of history demonstrates how the forces of European power came together to create the deadlock that would last for much of the remainder of the war and set the course for the changes in power that would last for decades. This highly readable book is a great introduction to the history of the Great War.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A good history book needs to find a balance between the ammount of information provided and the need to build a compelling story. Tuchman's book describes characters in a way that makes you feee you've met some of them. t also rovides the context in which desicions are made so that you understand the pressure and uncertainty involved.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The premise behind The Guns of August is that ultimately, the war became extremely dependent upon what happened within the first month of its initiation. As you can tell from the title of the novel, most of it takes place within August. The book takes the reader on a rather unfamiliar stroll through events such as the siege of Liege and the destruction of Louvain; the residual presence of Herr von Schiefflin's ultimate doctrine's on war and how to win are discussed throughout; the exalted if somewhat ephemeral presence of those such as French General Joffre, the cowardly and complacent Sir John French of the BEF, and such supporting characters of the likes of von Moltke, von Kluck and von Francois with many more deserving of such mention are all introduced.It's only upon reading a book of this nature that can one truly grasp how involved and confusing wartime really does become (outside of actually being in one that is) and it is a trait that I think can never truly be grasped in the movies and games which more than anything else seem to be just looking for a setting with which to animate violence anyway. The book is enormous in volume and does not flow like some other books, despite only being of some 400+ pages. It is incredibly well sourced as well for Tuchman lists a good portion of the works which she referenced and also has notes stating which she would recommend to those interested in further study. There are also photographs of some of the key individuals who would have an impact upon the initial war which I found gave each of the persons a personality as you would continue to read.Mrs. Tuchman writes with a specific theme of 'non-existent self-opinion' which means that while she writes with all the facts and occurrences that were present in the historical situation, she does not promote her own ideologies within the novel in hopes of trying to sway the reader's opinion. Basically, the reader is allowed to think about what happened and why it happened based on just the facts. You may think that this would lead to a rather boresome novel what with no subjective thought-base being supported throughout, but this just isn't the case.As a final word, I would say that anyone who wishes to introduce themselves (for that is all this book will do) to the first of the World Wars this is by far the best book with which do to so. For a more unornamented look at the war in its entirety I would say that this is not the book you're interested in and it would be best to look at a good university source. Anyone else looking for just a good nonfiction read, well....
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I don't often reread history books, but I have reread this one at least twice, it is so good. A fine explication of the days immediately before WWI.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a book that I have read at least four times over a 25 year period. I am drawn to Barbara Tuchman partly because of her "amateur" status as an historian. She was not a credentialed academic with an endowed chair. She seemed to write history because she enjoyed history, what I consider to be the best reason.The book covers the first months of WW I ending with the stalemate on the western front that led to the great war of attrition. The author provides insightful looks at the motivation and beginning strategies of the combatants. Contrasting the meticulous planning of the Germans with the emphasis of elan in the French. The contrasting plans of each party show clearly the maxim that generals always fight the last war.As in most wars everyone was convinced that their troops would achieve a quick victory, ironic predictions compared to the reality that unfolded.WW I caused the end of an era and the beginning of the modern world. The author portrays the thinking of the old era and its failure to see the changes ahead. Tuchman's writing elevates history to the page turning immediacy of suspense. Her command of the subject puts the reader in the middle of the events and on a first name basis with the emperors, generals and foot soldiers that made things happen.For all of these reasons I highly recommend this book for those interested in history or a well written book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's stuffed full of facts, and too many people to keep track of, but she does a good job of sketching out the essence of the combatants. It plays like a Greek tragedy, with poor decisions on all sides leading to calamity.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman describes the opening month of the First World War, from the perspectives of all sides in the combat. Despite the complex manueverings of nations and armies, she gives a clear sense of the personalities and decisions involved. By reading first about the plans being made and then seeing how they were carried out by commanders in all the confusion of war, I got a much better sense of how the war started out.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Tuchman brings the skill of a journalist to the practice of history. She examines the events that led up to the outbreak of WWI. While this is not anything new, her approach and handling of the material make this work among the best. Tuchman receives a lot of abuse for not being a true historian. I believe she has much to offer and that historians may do worse than to take a few lessons from her.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The place to start to understand the run up to WWI.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    At times difficult to read on the kindle without a map at hand to keep track of all the troop movements, but once I got a map the story was much more clear. I am very happy I finally read this as it not only tells the story of the first month of WWI, it also gives history of the major players and the events that led up to this war.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Brilliant in presentation and detail, wrapped in extraordinary writing on a historic scale.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Phenomenal. With magisterial prose, Barbara Tuchman has given us the details which immediately led to the first world war and has provided us an insight into the follies that made it almost inevitable.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A classic in the large body of work on World War One. Barbara Tuchman was a great historian.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Nope. Maybe it is this particular audiobook version, but I'm really not feeling the love for this book.

    With The Guns of August, Tuchman wrote this incredibly detailed account of the first month of WWI - and the detail is staggering, so much so that it might even be somewhat overwhelming and that somehow this detail detracts a little from what otherwise looks like a one-sided portrayal. I mean the detail staggering (and the only aspect that kept me reading this far) and includes a lot of detail of the politics, personalities, military strategy, philosophical motivations, etc. of all parties involved.
    However, what I cannot get passed is that the well-known (western) figures (Foch, Churchill, etc. - even Haig and French of whose short-comings Monty later wrote without holding back) come out pretty well, whereas the less well known (and for the most part Russian and German) personalities seem to be caricatures. There is a lot of national stereotyping - but maybe this is just exaggerated by the narration of this particular audiobook version which aims to read different characters in actual accents. (Why???)

    It is seriously making me dislike the book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book takes off where Christopher Clarks The Sleepwalkers ends.I used to spend holidays at a small village in the Belgian Ardennes called Ernonheid. On a wall of the former village school the following text is to be found: 'La nuit du 17 au 18 Aout 1914 les Allemands ont incendié 14 maisons' ( = during the night of the 17th until 18th of August 1914 the Germans burned 14 houses). In this book, I hoped to find an answer to my question why the Germans acted with such terror in the early months of the First World War. Tuchman gave several general answers (I didn't expect a specific answer to why this particular village was burned) : one of them was that the Germans wanted to leave as little as possible troops in Belgium, so that they could attack the French with a maximum of force. By using a lot of force on the Belgians, they hoped the Belgians would comply. Well, they didn't...
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Unquestionably the finest account of the people, decisions, events & places in Europe in August 1914.Tuchman's style is breathtakingly straightforward & all the more remarkable as she covers such complex detailed History of every day of the first month of World War One in the West, Centre & East of Europe in such a riveting, engaging manner.This is a Pulitzer Prize winner that cannot be over praised: Based on prodigious research across all frontiers & personalities Tuchman provides an exemplary guide to all Historians with her mastery of the variety of threads of political-military thinking & actions in the month that became the evolving disaster for Europe.One issue with the book is Tuchman's insistence on using 'England' for all relevant passages instead of either Britain or United Kingdom - she didn't mean it, I'm sure, but there's thousands of Irish, Scots & Welsh would take exception to implicitly being subject entirely to English leadership & military commitment in the era!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Go ahead and criticize Tuchman's "unscholarly" approach all you want, this book makes the beginning of WW I clear and understandable for the lay reader. She managed to keep me clear on the identities and roles of many, many historical figures whom I had never encountered before and keep my interest throughout the events. I felt compelled to keep reading. Her books are a gift to those of us who are not scholars of the period but want to understand one of the pivotal events of our time.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Since five stars means "it was amazing", I can give this work five stars although I couldn't read it all the way through. Deployment of the troops east, west, through the center, forward push, retreat, retrench, left of here, right of there - I got lost and gave up. But Tuchman's research and incisive writing about the lead-up to actual battle make fascinating reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A very complete explanation about start of WWI--the national sentiments that led to it and the opening days of the war.
    At school, we were always taught that the Treaty of Versailles was so unfair it led to WWII. After reading about the start of the war, it's far easier to understand the feelings of the winners as they turned on the losers and demanded reparations.
    A very sad story from our history.