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Greatest Day in History
Unlike 1945, the First World War did not end neatly with the unconditional surrender of the Germans. After a dramatic week of negotiations, military offensives and the beginning of a Communist revolution, the German Imperial regime collapsed. The Allies eventually granted an armistice to a new German government, and at eleventh hour on the 11th of November, the guns officially ceased fire, but only after 11,000 casualties had been sustained--almost as many as on D-Day.Nicholas Best tells the story in sweeping, cinematic style, revealing that events were far from pre-ordained. From the generals' headquarters to the frontline trenches, from the factories to the farms, he reveals the twists and turns that led to the end of the Great War.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2008
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About the author
Nicholas Best
49 books41 followersNicholas Best grew up in Kenya and was educated there, in England and at Trinity College, Dublin. He served in the Grenadier Guards and worked as a journalist in London before becoming a full time author.
His first novel ('As a satire on military bigotry and shambling officialdom, Where were you at Waterloo? is in places as sharp as Waugh and sometimes better' - Times Literary Supplement) was written at Harvard. His second, Tennis and the Masai ('The funniest book of the year - Daily Telegraph) was serialized on BBC Radio 4.
He has since written many other books, including Happy Valley: the Story of the English in Kenya, The Greatest Day in History, about the Armistice of 1918, and Five Days that shocked the World, about the end of the Second World War.
Best was the Financial Times's fiction critic for ten years. In 2010, he was long-listed for the Sunday Times-EFG Bank award of £30,000, the biggest short story prize in the world. He lives in Cambridge.
For more information, visit www.nicholasbest.co.uk
His first novel ('As a satire on military bigotry and shambling officialdom, Where were you at Waterloo? is in places as sharp as Waugh and sometimes better' - Times Literary Supplement) was written at Harvard. His second, Tennis and the Masai ('The funniest book of the year - Daily Telegraph) was serialized on BBC Radio 4.
He has since written many other books, including Happy Valley: the Story of the English in Kenya, The Greatest Day in History, about the Armistice of 1918, and Five Days that shocked the World, about the end of the Second World War.
Best was the Financial Times's fiction critic for ten years. In 2010, he was long-listed for the Sunday Times-EFG Bank award of £30,000, the biggest short story prize in the world. He lives in Cambridge.
For more information, visit www.nicholasbest.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 18, 2022
World War One remains one of the most brutal and devastating wars in human history and its after-effects continue to be the world as we live in today. I read this book over Veterans Day, originally Armistice Day, ending World War I at 11am on 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 and even the final day of the war was a maelstrom of tragedy. Despite the late entry of America into the war in 1917-1918 in reality both sides had reached the point of collapse. Great Britain was essentially out of fighting men so many had been killed; Russia had been overthrown by communist revolution and its royal family executed; Italy was out of the war; German was facing starvation and revolution by its navy; France was also seeing military desertion. This book paints a frightening depiction of the increasing instability in Germany and the deep concerns of American General John Pershing that allowing the armistice to end the war without a military defeat of Germany would result in another war with Germany, and history proved his concerns valid. While well depicting the situation in Germany and Great Britain and the front line, I felt this book failed to describe the similar collapse of portions of the French army during this period.
The worst part of the days leading up to the cease fire was the Americans, British and French knew the day and time of the cease fire, yet continued to fight until the very last minute. Thousands of soldiers were wounded and killed on the LAST DAY of the war. No other day better portrayed the madness and horror of the Great War, and this book does a decent job of bringing the story of the final days to life.
The worst part of the days leading up to the cease fire was the Americans, British and French knew the day and time of the cease fire, yet continued to fight until the very last minute. Thousands of soldiers were wounded and killed on the LAST DAY of the war. No other day better portrayed the madness and horror of the Great War, and this book does a decent job of bringing the story of the final days to life.
June 1, 2012
A quick read that takes us through the final week of World War I. Off the top, that statement feels odd since the title of the book would make you believe that that book would be about the find day and not the final week of the Great War.
The book is written in a way that I never warmed to. It tells the story through the eyes of dozens of people from every country involved. However, each person gets a page or two, a simple glimpse in time during the particular day the chapter represents. The story never gained any traction for me since it was set up in such a choppy manner. I wasn't sure I would like it at all, except that I did find some of the stories interesting and I really enjoyed the brief sections on the Kaiser and how he spent the final days of the war. However, I would have loved entire chapter on just this fact.
My final complaint is that there are no end notes used in this book. There is only a bibliography. That bugs me because there are many quotes used throughout the story. I do not think that the author took any liberties and I am confident that his research was superb, but it feels like that this book could have gone more in depth at every level.
The book is written in a way that I never warmed to. It tells the story through the eyes of dozens of people from every country involved. However, each person gets a page or two, a simple glimpse in time during the particular day the chapter represents. The story never gained any traction for me since it was set up in such a choppy manner. I wasn't sure I would like it at all, except that I did find some of the stories interesting and I really enjoyed the brief sections on the Kaiser and how he spent the final days of the war. However, I would have loved entire chapter on just this fact.
My final complaint is that there are no end notes used in this book. There is only a bibliography. That bugs me because there are many quotes used throughout the story. I do not think that the author took any liberties and I am confident that his research was superb, but it feels like that this book could have gone more in depth at every level.
April 10, 2020
Mud & muddle: war is never tidy and never-ending
This is a history of the end of The War To End All Wars, mostly recounted by contemporary witnesses from several of the nations involved: some were famous or later became famous but some were never were.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month is how we still mark the momentous event of the Armistice: it gives the misleading impression that it was an instant cessation of blood and thunder, as taught at school.
Nothing could be more inaccurate. Officers, mostly Americans, who rated their careers over men's lives strove to take one more "objective" at the pointless cost of yet more lives. Mostly, both sides seemed confused as to whether the war was over and reacted accordingly and chaotically.
The negotiating parties suffered all kinds of setbacks, with negotiators getting trapped on the wrong side of the front line, phone lines getting broken. One 'joke' from that era, a message received as "Send three and four pence, we're going to a dance" originally read "Send re-inforcements, we're going to advance"* just about sums it up.
What followed was the world's biggest party and funeral wake simultaneously: messy's not the word for it. Never underestimate the madness of crowds.
This book is a tremendous antidote to 'school' history because the voices are so poignant and the frayed ends of the conflict flap about so haphazardly that it's impossible not to be moved by it. What surprised me most was how many people had forebodings, once they knew how draconian were the penalties imposed on Germany, that a further war was inevitable. The madness of the crowd won that day too and twenty-one years later millions more were to die.
This is definitely worth a read because it demonstrates that humanity doesn't change much and good history is always a warning.
*Joke told to me by my grandfather, a Major in the Royal Garrison Artillery, winner of the Military Cross for directing gunnery, from behind enemy lines, that killed 1,500 Germans, veteran of the Somme and all subsequent battles. He didn't laugh much.
This is a history of the end of The War To End All Wars, mostly recounted by contemporary witnesses from several of the nations involved: some were famous or later became famous but some were never were.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month is how we still mark the momentous event of the Armistice: it gives the misleading impression that it was an instant cessation of blood and thunder, as taught at school.
Nothing could be more inaccurate. Officers, mostly Americans, who rated their careers over men's lives strove to take one more "objective" at the pointless cost of yet more lives. Mostly, both sides seemed confused as to whether the war was over and reacted accordingly and chaotically.
The negotiating parties suffered all kinds of setbacks, with negotiators getting trapped on the wrong side of the front line, phone lines getting broken. One 'joke' from that era, a message received as "Send three and four pence, we're going to a dance" originally read "Send re-inforcements, we're going to advance"* just about sums it up.
What followed was the world's biggest party and funeral wake simultaneously: messy's not the word for it. Never underestimate the madness of crowds.
This book is a tremendous antidote to 'school' history because the voices are so poignant and the frayed ends of the conflict flap about so haphazardly that it's impossible not to be moved by it. What surprised me most was how many people had forebodings, once they knew how draconian were the penalties imposed on Germany, that a further war was inevitable. The madness of the crowd won that day too and twenty-one years later millions more were to die.
This is definitely worth a read because it demonstrates that humanity doesn't change much and good history is always a warning.
*Joke told to me by my grandfather, a Major in the Royal Garrison Artillery, winner of the Military Cross for directing gunnery, from behind enemy lines, that killed 1,500 Germans, veteran of the Somme and all subsequent battles. He didn't laugh much.
December 22, 2019
The book covers the last seven days before the Armistice on the 11th of November 1918.
Nicholas Best in ‘The Greatest Day in History’ brings us a moving account of the many people who took part WW1 and how the rest of their lives unfolded. These include man like Douglas Macarthur, Harry Truman, George Patton, Dwight Eisenhower, Siegfried Sassoon, Adolph Hitler just to mention a few. With these short biographical histories, it is a book you can easily dip into.
Overall the book is well researched and a enjoyable but sad read, I would recommend this to anyone with a interested in the history of the people involved WW1
Nicholas Best in ‘The Greatest Day in History’ brings us a moving account of the many people who took part WW1 and how the rest of their lives unfolded. These include man like Douglas Macarthur, Harry Truman, George Patton, Dwight Eisenhower, Siegfried Sassoon, Adolph Hitler just to mention a few. With these short biographical histories, it is a book you can easily dip into.
Overall the book is well researched and a enjoyable but sad read, I would recommend this to anyone with a interested in the history of the people involved WW1
March 22, 2020
Accessible, readable, entertaining but at the same time a serious and detailed work of historical research that vividly brings to life the seven days before the Armistice was signed in 1918 bringing to an end the senseless slaughter of the previous 4 years. Events unfold before our eyes as we view them through the eyes of a wide range of individuals who lived through these last days and hours. Fascinating glimpses into their lives and incredibly poignant at times, especially when deaths occurred so close to the very end. A great read.
July 20, 2019
Excellent history of the last week of World War I. It interlocks vignettes from soldiers, politicians, nurses, famous people, soon to be famous (Truman, Hitler). It reinforces the waste of the war....American units were being hurled into battle 15 minutes before the cease fire. Also, the very obvious is being hinted at, that this would not be the war to end wars
August 10, 2019
An informative and interesting read
The author takes us on a very different and in-depth journey through the first world war. There are plenty of good books covering the major events and battles. This book examines the military, political, and personal experiences of many personalities involved. It is interesting and hard to put down. I can truely recommend this book.
The author takes us on a very different and in-depth journey through the first world war. There are plenty of good books covering the major events and battles. This book examines the military, political, and personal experiences of many personalities involved. It is interesting and hard to put down. I can truely recommend this book.
October 7, 2018
History made into a narrative - the last 10 days of the Great War.
Definitely worth reading.
Lively we see the chaos, the feelings and fears of each part and get an up and close view of this last week.
Definitely worth reading.
Lively we see the chaos, the feelings and fears of each part and get an up and close view of this last week.
May 2, 2019
Very detailed and full of people who became famous during world war two, Best tells the story of the last few weeks of the First World War, and how the last few days (three chapters on November 11th) each led to the Armistice and what had occurred. Nicely paced and styled.
September 13, 2019
This book highlights some of the most notable moments at the end of WW1. It mainly focuses on the western front and the last days of the Kaiser. Some small notable events are omitted.
Overall it is an interesting easy to read book.
Overall it is an interesting easy to read book.
February 16, 2020
Simply Superb
For WW1 history buffs, this is a 'must read'. The scope of the book is enormous. To say that one would be enlightened after reading the book would be very much an understatement.
For WW1 history buffs, this is a 'must read'. The scope of the book is enormous. To say that one would be enlightened after reading the book would be very much an understatement.
April 17, 2020
The real story
A fascinating backdrop to the most .memorable day in world history providing a kaleidoscope of players who would go on to the shape the future. Many predicting the disastrous consequences of the treaty of Versailles
A fascinating backdrop to the most .memorable day in world history providing a kaleidoscope of players who would go on to the shape the future. Many predicting the disastrous consequences of the treaty of Versailles
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September 4, 2018Een van de belangrijkste inspiratiebronnen voor mijn eigen boek Het elfde uur
June 3, 2019
Great read
Thorough look at all parties at the end of the war. Well researched and clearly written. 5 stars. Must read for devotes of WW1.
Thorough look at all parties at the end of the war. Well researched and clearly written. 5 stars. Must read for devotes of WW1.
June 3, 2019
Best wrote an amazing story about the Armistice and the events that led up to it. Not only did he give the view of the politicians and the military commanders, but he also wrote from the point of view of the men from the trenches. It was interesting to see the divide between the kaiser and the military and the politicians of Germany. It also delved into plight that both soldiers and civilians faced about trying not to die when the war was so close to ending. Then there was the aspect of the Bolshevist revolution and and impact that it had on the politics behind bringing the war to an end. There were also hints and tidbits that explained how WWII was already starting to form from this war even though everybody wanted the war to end. I can only imagine what it must have felt like for all of those people to hear tat the war had finally ended. It must have been one, if not the greatest, day of their lives. Reading this book helped me to feel what the people were feeling during that tumultuous time. I would give this book four in a half out of five starts and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about WWI History or Politics during war.
December 6, 2017
Nicholas Best offers a unique perspective of the final days of World War I in "The Greatest Day in History." Using a vast amount of eyewitness accounts, he weaves together a fabulous journal of the disaster, tension, and jubilation at the end of one of history's bloodiest wars.
The first half of the book addresses a great deal of political aspects of the days leading up to the Armistice. Best does not venture from his personal format, as he follows the members of the German peace delegation to their meeting in a traincar as well as the life of the Kaiser leading up to his abdication. I found this to be the strongest, most readable part of the book. The apprehension of the men who sold Germany's soul, the awkwardness and tension of their meeting with the French, and the Kaiser's intense reluctance to give up are captured in detail, and it makes for excellent reading. Thrumming with tension are the stories of the leaders of Germany's many major cities and provinces, who faced Bolshevik uprisings on every hand.
The rest of the book, however, is almost entirely based on personal memoirs of individual soldiers and civilians, and Best's prose becomes a bit blocky. One book opening can contain four short paragraphs at a time, as Best offers mere snippets from the lives of countless individuals. Fascinating material, no doubt, but a little disruptive to the flow of the book. I also felt as if the chapters covering Armistice Day itself were quite repetitive. Jubilant street celebrations here, depressed soldiers there, another jubilant street celebration here, and a disappointed soldier there. Little else is covered except for the reactions of individual people. More coverage of the big-picture political scheme would have made this a more complete book.
Nevertheless, this is an impressive effort from Nicholas Best, and deserves a read from anyone interested in military history, and especially personal memoirs of people who saw momentous times in history. I will probably give this book a second read in the future to appreciate it more fully.
The first half of the book addresses a great deal of political aspects of the days leading up to the Armistice. Best does not venture from his personal format, as he follows the members of the German peace delegation to their meeting in a traincar as well as the life of the Kaiser leading up to his abdication. I found this to be the strongest, most readable part of the book. The apprehension of the men who sold Germany's soul, the awkwardness and tension of their meeting with the French, and the Kaiser's intense reluctance to give up are captured in detail, and it makes for excellent reading. Thrumming with tension are the stories of the leaders of Germany's many major cities and provinces, who faced Bolshevik uprisings on every hand.
The rest of the book, however, is almost entirely based on personal memoirs of individual soldiers and civilians, and Best's prose becomes a bit blocky. One book opening can contain four short paragraphs at a time, as Best offers mere snippets from the lives of countless individuals. Fascinating material, no doubt, but a little disruptive to the flow of the book. I also felt as if the chapters covering Armistice Day itself were quite repetitive. Jubilant street celebrations here, depressed soldiers there, another jubilant street celebration here, and a disappointed soldier there. Little else is covered except for the reactions of individual people. More coverage of the big-picture political scheme would have made this a more complete book.
Nevertheless, this is an impressive effort from Nicholas Best, and deserves a read from anyone interested in military history, and especially personal memoirs of people who saw momentous times in history. I will probably give this book a second read in the future to appreciate it more fully.
September 23, 2009
Everyone knows that 11 November is Armistice Day, but how many of us know the details of what made it so memorable? Author Nicholas Best, beginning with the week preceding, describes the events leading up to the historic peace that ended World War I. Shifting from one side to the other, we get an idea of the strategic as well as political status of the Allies and the Germans during this tense phase of the war. Much of what Best presents comes from participants in the events…some of them combatants, others, people of celebrity status. Of course there is the Kaiser and his flight to the Netherlands. He relates where the principle politicians were and what they were thinking, from individual accounts of the period we learn as well what the people in the field, soldiers, nurses, ambulance drivers felt at the time.
Best, taking us from England to key places in Europe, and the United States, goes on at length to describe the various celebrations that erupted on that fateful day. It’s as though the author attempts to answer the question, “What were you doing when the Armistice was signed?” The answer is, there were reactions ranging from drunk and disorderly conduct to profound sadness. In spite of the joy that so many felt there were also those who could not help but temper their relief that the war was over with mourning for those who sacrificed their lives. Vera Brittain may have expressed it best when she wrote: “The war was over: a new age was beginning; but the dead were dead and would never return.”
The book ends ominously with Adolph Hitler’s reaction to the Armistice; a foreshadowing of the cataclysm to come.
For anyone desiring to fill in the historical outline of WWI this is a good way to get a feel for how the world reacted towards the end of the war.
Best, taking us from England to key places in Europe, and the United States, goes on at length to describe the various celebrations that erupted on that fateful day. It’s as though the author attempts to answer the question, “What were you doing when the Armistice was signed?” The answer is, there were reactions ranging from drunk and disorderly conduct to profound sadness. In spite of the joy that so many felt there were also those who could not help but temper their relief that the war was over with mourning for those who sacrificed their lives. Vera Brittain may have expressed it best when she wrote: “The war was over: a new age was beginning; but the dead were dead and would never return.”
The book ends ominously with Adolph Hitler’s reaction to the Armistice; a foreshadowing of the cataclysm to come.
For anyone desiring to fill in the historical outline of WWI this is a good way to get a feel for how the world reacted towards the end of the war.
December 29, 2013
A fantastic day-by-day (and sometimes hour-by-hour) account of the last days of World War I. I thought I had had a solid grounding in history, yet I knew nothing of the Bolshevik revolutions in Germany in the early days of November, the endless discussions about what to do with the King's cousin, the Kaiser: since he was a monster, the British wanted to shoot him as a war criminal, yet he was also a grandson of Queen Victoria. (They sincerely wished he would lead his troops in one last desperate battle where he would be killed and they wouldn't have to deal with him.)
The final chapters, which take place during Armistace day, show a world cheering the news of peace. The author includes the reminiscences of some famous people (Winston Churchill, who spent Armistice day trying to tell everyone to get back to work!) and soon-to-be famous people: young Noel Coward, who spent armistace day with a gay Chilean diploman; 16 year old Marlene Deitrich, who spent it writing in her diary; 28-year old Agatha Christie, who spent the day putting the finishing touches on her first novel. The book ends with an obscure Bavarian corporal, sobbing his eyes out on his army cot, swearing that one day he would take revenge on those who sold out the German people.
The final chapters, which take place during Armistace day, show a world cheering the news of peace. The author includes the reminiscences of some famous people (Winston Churchill, who spent Armistice day trying to tell everyone to get back to work!) and soon-to-be famous people: young Noel Coward, who spent armistace day with a gay Chilean diploman; 16 year old Marlene Deitrich, who spent it writing in her diary; 28-year old Agatha Christie, who spent the day putting the finishing touches on her first novel. The book ends with an obscure Bavarian corporal, sobbing his eyes out on his army cot, swearing that one day he would take revenge on those who sold out the German people.
April 25, 2011
A decent book, with a comprehensive view of the collapse of Germany prior to the Armistice and a view to how close it was from not being signed. Occasionally took too broad of a view, and there were too many threads to really follow from beginning to end.
I'm also not a fan of the author's desire to include historical people of interest when they had tangential or no impact on the main crux of the story other than having been alive in Europe at the time. Similarly, his need to categorize so many of the individuals as pro- or anti- armistice seems a little contrived and judgmental given our knowledge of the future history.
The end becomes nigh unreadable and should have been greatly shortened -- despite including contra-examples, there are simply too many repetitions of the same celebration of impromptu parades, strangers kissing, and freed citizens celebrating. True, yes. But excruciatingly repetitive.
I'm also not a fan of the author's desire to include historical people of interest when they had tangential or no impact on the main crux of the story other than having been alive in Europe at the time. Similarly, his need to categorize so many of the individuals as pro- or anti- armistice seems a little contrived and judgmental given our knowledge of the future history.
The end becomes nigh unreadable and should have been greatly shortened -- despite including contra-examples, there are simply too many repetitions of the same celebration of impromptu parades, strangers kissing, and freed citizens celebrating. True, yes. But excruciatingly repetitive.
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February 3, 2017Quite a good read starting in the days leading up to the signing of the Armistice and then covering the recollections of various people on the 11th November 1918. Recollections from the diaries and letters of the famous and not so famous, Kaiser Wilhelm, King George V, Woodrow Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Winston Churchill. People who would one day be famous like Captain Harry Truman, an artillery battery commander in France and Cpl Adolf Hitler who was recovering from injuries in hospital in Germany. Vera Brittan, Siegfried Sassoon, Oswald Mosley, Margot Asquith and a host of others contribute their memories. Worth a read.
March 31, 2009
The author weaves the recollections of dozens of participants in the events leading up to the ending of World War 1. Everything from the last moments of each nations final casualty. Sadly close to 11,000 casulaties on the day alone even though most soldiers on both sides knew that at 11 am the fighting would stop. Everyone from Monet, inspired to paint the water lillies to Irving berlin is covered. The technique has been used before but Best really does an excellent job out of weaving together these unconnected realities to give the reader some idea of what the day was like.
December 23, 2013
One week of world history, but an important week, is covered very thoroughly and fascinatingly in this interesting book. The book starts on November 5 and concludes during the evening of November 11 as the inevitability of the end of the Great War is shown from all angles. While I enjoyed the glimpses into the lives of the leaders (Kaiser Wilhelm, David Lloyd George, Clemenceau, Woodrow Wilson, a young Hitler) perhaps more enlightening were all the stories of famous writers, actors and other world citizens whose lives were also shaped by World War One.
September 18, 2014
The final week of World War One, and the day of the Armistice itself, as told through the eyes of people on both sides of the line, the home fronts and across the globe.
This is really an epitome of many previously published accounts, letters, diaries and memoirs. Hence there is a heavy emphasis on famous people (and those to become famous). If you want to know what Hemingway was up to on 11 November 1918, or Marlene Dietrich, or Churchill, then this is for you.
An interesting slice of time, but not exactly hard historical investigation.
Rated PG for some war violence. 2.5/5
This is really an epitome of many previously published accounts, letters, diaries and memoirs. Hence there is a heavy emphasis on famous people (and those to become famous). If you want to know what Hemingway was up to on 11 November 1918, or Marlene Dietrich, or Churchill, then this is for you.
An interesting slice of time, but not exactly hard historical investigation.
Rated PG for some war violence. 2.5/5
July 12, 2012
The history presented was interestingly done, and I finished the book. But I did not appreciate some of the way the book was presented. The author took some poetic license, and I did not like it. The mockery of German soldier, now long dead, was unappreciated and unfunny. It was cruel.
And the ending struck me as heavy handed and thoughtless. The sloppiness of putting words in people's mouth seemed foolish in the extreme and unfitting of an author of such scholarship.
Which is really all to say I was quite disappointed in this book.
And the ending struck me as heavy handed and thoughtless. The sloppiness of putting words in people's mouth seemed foolish in the extreme and unfitting of an author of such scholarship.
Which is really all to say I was quite disappointed in this book.
April 10, 2010
A very readable account of the final week of the First World War. The author relates what the famous, the not famous, the to-be-famous, and the to-be-infamous were doing during that week. No prologue, no epilogue. Just a narrow focus on those seven days. The author resisted whatever urge he may have had to frame World War I as a prelude to World War II. Instead he lets this war stand on its own, with only subtle foreshadowing of the war to come.
October 15, 2010
Fantastic—although I'm starting to think I should probably be reading a more comprehensive book about the whole war instead of just the last week of it, since I know very little about WWI at this point. Due to the nature of the book (focusing on eye-witness accounts of a few days' period), there's some redundancy at times. But, for anyone researching the period this book is a gold mine of anecdotes and is guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing.
June 10, 2016
Covering the seven days before the Armistice that ended the First World War on the 11th of November 1918, Nicholas Best in ‘The Greatest Day in History’ brings us a moving account of many people who took part and how the rest of their lives unfolded. With these short biographical histories, it is a book you can dip into, but Best’s compulsive style will almost certainly keep you glued to the pages.
March 28, 2009
Kind of interesting and kind of boring at the same time. I can't figure out if I didn't enjoy reading it more because I know crushingly little about WW1 or because this book didn't put it into enough context. It did inspire me to find a more comprehensive book (or two) about the events leading up to and following WW1.
June 24, 2016
The final days of the First World War have been the subject of many different books but Nicholas Best offers a new perspective. He draws on the words and experiences of many different participants on both sides to give an fast-moving and readable account of events on and off the battlefield. Highly recommended.
July 2, 2016
Nicholas Best has produced another fine work of detailed history that considers the final phase of World War I. The emphasis is on the personal, with fascinating accounts from the good, the great and the completely unknown as this terrible conflict finally draws to a close in November 1918.Highly recommended.
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