First World War

'Highly-lucid history...succeeds at emblazoning the individual human cost as well as the wider perspective.' Daily Mail

'An immensely readable epitome of one of the most complex events in history.' Paul Johnson, Evening Standard

‘Gilbert never forgets – and never allows his readers to forget – that the "embattled armies" were composed of millions of individuals, that it is the human experience and the human cost that matters. Numerous individual sidelights, culled from many sources, illuminate this immensely readable book...Gilbert's grasp of his material is enviable and the result admirable. This is everyman's history of the First World War.' Lyn Macdonald, The Sunday Times

'A stunning achievement.' Publishers Weekly

‘A rewarding and significant book...splendidly recreates...(the) battles' widening circles of impact on families, friends, lovers and generations to come.’ New York Times Book Review

'Gilbert's book is a remarkable achievement. Magnificent.' Dominic Hibberd, Times Higher Education Supplement

'A life-long aversion to reading about history was triumphantly cured by Martin Gilbert's immense and absorbing work...He makes the scope and sweep of the era read like a god novel except that we would never believe these events if they were fiction.' Allan Shiach, Scotsman