With the Allies

by Richard Harding Davis

Work from the popular writer of fiction and drama, journalist, war correspondent and editor of 'Harpers Weekly'

Genres: World War I

108 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1914

About the author

Richard Harding Davis (1864–1916) was a journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and he also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.

Reviews

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book obviously written by frustrated journalist who is not allowed to print what he sees. There is more actual war stories in the first half of the book, while the last section spoke more about what it was like to be a correspondent from a neutral country. I particularly enjoyed a couple of chapters near the end which described the behavior of his fellow Americans in Europe as they are inconvenienced by the war. I recommend the book.

[Ted Wenskus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating first-hand account of the early days of World War 1 -- probably of more interest to history buffs than the general public, but it was right up my alley. Since it was published in late 1914, it provides a great perspective of a journalist on the Western Front, long before anyone knew how the war would bog down or develop. More striking (though I probably shouldn't be surprised) is how timely Davis's observations are on topics that are still very much in the forefront of 21st century, such as freedom of the press, and the terrible cost of war. Consider this passage:

"It is in the by-products of the war that the waste, cruelty, and stupidity of war are most apparent. It is the most innocent who suffer and those who have the least offended who are the most severely punished."

Some things never change. An enlightening read.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Were the conflict in Europe a fair fight, the duty of every American would be to keep on the side-lines and preserve an open mind.But it
is not a fair fight. To devastate a country you have sworn to protect, to drop bombs upon unfortified cities, to lay sunken mines, to levy
blackmail by threatening hostages with death, to destroy cathedrals is not to fight fair.

At Louvain it was war upon the defenceless, war upon churches, colleges, shops of milliners and lace-makers; war brought to the
bedside and the fireside; against women harvesting in the fields, against children in wooden shoes at play in the streets.

[John Wargo · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting stories, great insights into the life of a war correspondent, the stupidity of the military, and more. I'm glad I read this, no history book would have given me these insights.

[Jeroen · Rating 4 out of 5]

2014 is het jaar waarin de Grote Oorlog, 100 jaar na datum, enorm in de aandacht kwam te staan. In het enorme aanbod van boeken over dit onderwerp vond ik deze parel.

Het boekje is 100 jaar geleden geschreven door Richard Harding Davis. Hij was ongetwijfeld de hoogst betaalde en meest gelauwerde correspondent van zijn tijd. Toen WOI uitbrak had hij reeds heel wat ervaring op het oorlogstoneel. Hij versloeg in 1898 de Spaans-Amerikaanse oorlog. Twee jaren later versloeg hij voor zijn krant de Boerenoorlog in Zuid-Afrika.
Zijn laatste oorlog zou WOI worden, want hij stierf midden in het conflict. Hij schreef 2 boekjes over zijn ervaringen tijdens de beginmaanden van de oorlog, oa deze With the Allies.

Richard Harding Davies stond op de eerste rij toen Duitsland het neutrale België binnenviel. Hij vertelt dus uit eerste hand over wat hij toen zag en beleefde. En dat maakt het intrigerend en overtuigend.

Een aanrader.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

(review is incomplete)

I picked up this book at a used book sale many years ago as part of an original edition set of American newspaper accounts of WWI - all published before mid-1917 and presumably intended to promote American's entry into the war. The real jewel in the set is the volume on the eastern front, written vividly by John Reed and illustrated equally vividly by Boardman Robinson. I hadn't read any of the others until this year, when for no particular reason I dusted this one off and read through it.