The First World War: A Brief History with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)

Ferocious and all encompassing, the First World War touched countless lives in Europe and far beyond. In this volume, Susan R. Grayzel explores the unprecedented nature of modern “Total War,” and outlines the origins, experiences, and legacies of the war through — and beyond — Europe and the West. The introduction offers important insights into the cultural, political, and psychological landscape from which the war emerged, as well as a thoughtful examination of the conduct of the war and its aftermath. A wide array of documents, ranging from nationalist propaganda and diplomatic agreements to poetry and intimate letters and journals, reveal the far-reaching causes and consequences of this total war, and offer unique perspectives from voices sometimes overlooked in the study of the war — including colonial soldiers, contemporary psychologists, artists, protestors, and women at the home front and the front lines. Incisive document headnotes, maps, a chronology, questions to consider, and a bibliography enrich students’ understanding of this fateful period.