| Abstract |
The First World War was the Great War for its leading participants. In revisiting the events of 1914-1918 a century on, the author considers how we now look at the impact of the conflict across the globe and how it came to be the First World War in our consciousness. For millions, both soldiers and civilians, the conflict proved fatal. The suffering and loss of the war provides much of its resonance and significance, but this book seeks to throw light beyond this, not least in asking how it ended in victory and defeat. Casting aside the conventional narrative, the author investigates not only the key events of the war, but its consequences in restructuring the old order. As its significance has changed with time, and not only with the loss of first-hand testimony, he considers the struggle in its full historical context. And finally he also analyses its memorialisation today. |
