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The Price of Glory: Verdun 1916
This book is more than a chronicle of the facts of battle. It is a profoundly moving, sympathetic study of the men who fought at Verdun, and it also shows that Verdun is a key to understanding the First World War--a key to the minds of those who waged it, to the traditions that bound them, and to the world that created them. Continuously in print for over thirty years, th...more
Paperback, Revised Edition, 388 pages
Published
January 1st 1994
by Penguin Books
(first published 1962)
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Usually I just breeze through military history, but this was very affecting. Horne has that novelistic eye for the pathos of everything human--for even something as dry-sounding as the fluctuations of French army tactical doctrine 1870-1940. Horne shows you the sadness and helplessness behind the old cliche, 'generals are always fighting the last war.' The French army is bottled up and surrounded in fortress towns like Sedan and Metz by the Prussians in 1870--so in the years between then and 191...more
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Some selfish but ultimately healthy mechanism insulates us—most of us, most of the time—from life's horrors. Without a mental carapace to protect us from the sheer awfulness of things, we’d be reduced to masses of quivering, suicidal jelly before we even got out of bed. Take this humdrum little factoid: a quarter of a million men died in the Battle of Verdun. A quarter of a million. The mind refuses to assimilate such a statistic. Sure, you can understand it, but its full significance doesn...more
Huh! I had never read a complete story about war when I first read this book in mid 2000. I shall never forget the name of the man who wrote this book. Its simply one of the very best books I ever read. It revealed to me that even though the weapons used in the World War I were not as lethal as what we saw in the next war, still the ferocity was maddening. That infamous standoff at Verdun between the arnies of France and Germany will remain one of the greyyest description of war in my mind. The ...more
Despite the age of this book it still remains a classic of WW1. Horne's ability to describe a character in single a paragraph is exceptional among historians. Admittedly it does get a bit repetitive towards the end as the carnage continues and continues (but so did the real battle!) The last view pages nearly brings the reader to tears as he discusses the fate of so many survivors of Verdun and of the battlefield it's self. Some may disagree with Horne's conclusion that the Battle permanentl...more
I had to read this book for one of my history classes and I loved it! I learned so much about WWI in general, especially the particular battle at Verdun, and it was surprisingly well-written. I read it in about 5 days (partly because I had a quiz on it and and had put off reading it) but it was very interesting and I really enjoyed it.
Geleend van een vriend die Verdun bezocht en daar nog danig van onder de indruk was.De Apocalyptische toestanden op de slagvelden en de waanzin die Europa tussen 1914 en 1918 in de greep hield weet Horne voortreffelijk tastbaar te maken.
Good book on the Verdun campaign. Very compelling read. It left me angry at the arrogance and blindness of British and French military leaders. Horne gives both sides of the story, and his German vignettes are compelling.
As usual, Horne is exhaustively detailed in his accounts as he paints the horrific portrait of what it was like on the frontlines of WWI at Verdun. This, in conjunction with "All Quiet on the Western Front" will give you a bellyful of disgust at the wastefulness of attrition warfare.
A very good and engaging explanation of Verdun, the lead up to battle, the movements therein (what there were of them - it seems like a lot of land being turned over when you read, but one must remind one's self that the limited to-and-fro occured over a period of TEN months), and the causes for its eventual winding down. My sole complaint would be that, while Alistair Horne has an extremely readable style, occasionally the Franco-centric (did I make that word up?) nature of his special studies ...more
If you only ever want to read about one specific battle of the Great War [already believing that you know the gist of what happened] then this book is for you. it is superbly detailed, yet sometimes over-biased to the French. It details the whole of this terrible/bloody battle and relives the horrors that many of us are all too familiar with.
As a visitor to the battlefields surrounding Verdun I can honestly say that this book is not only an excellent narrative, but also a fantastic g...more
As a visitor to the battlefields surrounding Verdun I can honestly say that this book is not only an excellent narrative, but also a fantastic g...more
Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk
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I was 15 when I read this book and it had a powerful impact on me. The battle of Verdun was the greatest blood-letting of the First world war and Alistair Horne's telling of it is just as rich today as it was almost 40 years ago! I love history that goes right to the source and quotes the letters and diaries of those who experienced it - it is the closest we will ever get to a true surrogate experience.
Okay, okay! WWI was horrible, we get it!
Seriously though, too much of what is available for sale on the subject of WWI is overarching, and tries to cover far too much. That's why Alistair Horne's story of the battle of Verdun is so effective. Using a single, albeit enormous and lengthy, battle to explore the whole war is powerful, moving, occasionally too detail oriented, but all in all, fascinating.
Seriously though, too much of what is available for sale on the subject of WWI is overarching, and tries to cover far too much. That's why Alistair Horne's story of the battle of Verdun is so effective. Using a single, albeit enormous and lengthy, battle to explore the whole war is powerful, moving, occasionally too detail oriented, but all in all, fascinating.
Another masterpiece from Welsh-born, French Historian Alistair Horne. He writes these historical accounts in such an engrossing narrative style that you might think you are reading fiction. The description of the cauldron that was Verdun is such that you feel you were witness to one of the largest battles ever fought. Three quarters of a million men fell on this most hallowed ground.
Loved this book. I learned so much about WWI: the mindset, the leadership, the struggles, the tactics, the devastation. It's harrowing and sobering to think that this was all real. I feel like I know the people of that battle, although I could never endure what they did. God bless them. Thanks to Alistair Horne for memorializing them and their sacrifices.
This is a classical piece of military history, well written and presented. This would be the best book that you'll find covering the terrible slaughter that is known as 'Verdun' during WWI. The author is one of the best English authors who covers French history and he writes his stories well. Take the time to read this book you wont be disappointed!
One of my favorites. This is an in-depth look at the Battle of Verdun. Thorough and well-researched, this book is not dry as you might expect. Anyone who questions the bravery of the French military will think again after reading this compelling narrative of one of history's bloodiest and longest battles.
I'm not really a fan of military history or anything of that sort, but this book was amazing. I was forced to read it for class and I found myself enjoying it (although I'm not sure if enjoy is the correct adjective for something so awful). I would recommend it.
This is a must read for anyone that is even remotely interested in the First World War. It is outstanding for bring the absolute horror and utter futility of that war to light.
Heartbreaking in its stupidity...
A great example for how to write an anti-war book. Present the facts and let the reader decide.
Tedious reading but very informative, and sometimes heartwrenching.
Most depressing book. Ever.
Kelly
marked it as to-read
Nick Edwards
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He has won the following awards: Hawthornden Prize, 1963, for The Price of Glory; Yorkshire Post Book of the Year Prize and Wolfson Literary Award, both 1978, both for A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962; French Légion d'Honneur, 1993, for work on French history; Commander of the British Empire (CBE), 2003.
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