The Price of Glory
Historian Alistair Horne's book, "The Price of Glory" is one of themost well known and admired books on the Battle of Verdun. Early on, hegives his own perspective on the battle when he writes, "A small affair;[the battle] yet out of it grew what those who took part in it consideredto be the grimmest battle in all that grim war, perhaps in History itself"(Horne 1). Verdun was one of the deadliest battles of the war, and Hornezeros in on it because of its importance to the entire war, and themagnitude of the losses there. He maintains that before the battle,Germany still had a chance to win the war, but as the battle continued,their chance trickled away (Horne 1). Thus, the battle was a great turningpoint in the war, and this is why he concentrates on it, and why he wrotehis book. He also maintains that Verdun still influences France today, andcertainly had influence over the way the French fought the Germans duringthe Second World War, which is why Germany so easily overthrew France withtheir Panzer divisions (Horne 2). Clearly, Horne's thesis embodies theimportance of the battle, not only on World War 1, but also far beyond. Horne presents some compelling evidence throughout the bo
The French simply heldon longer than the Germans, and in the end, they lost a great manysoldiers, but they were not "bled white" as the Germans had assumed, theyheld on, and held their country. Horne also discusses the home fronts during the war, and what washappening while the soldiers fought in the trenches. Horne illustratesjust what influence Falkenhayn had over the Kaiser, and how his leadershipliterally drove his country into defeat, as he wildly underestimated theFrench Army's determination to hold their country. I would recommended it highly, but it is not thekind of book that can just be put down, it compels the reader to turn thepage, and so, the reader should make enough time to read it in one or twosittings. "The Price of Glory" is an excellentaccount of one battle that shaped a war, and it should be on anyone'sreading list if they are interested in learning more about the First WorldWar. Discussing the tactics of both side, Horne shows how no one really"won" the Battle of Verdun, they simply managed to hold on. However, it was a compelling account of the tragedy and rage of war. The drawings and photographs help the words come alive, butultimately, it is Horne's vivid prose that stays with the reader andcompels them to read on. Reading this book was not easy. For example, hewrites of the women of France, "At the outbreak of war, to a woman they hadrushed off to become nurses, fill the administrative gaps left by the men,work in the munitions factors. For example, he writes of thetaking of a French village, "Up came the Pioneers with their flamethrowers,and the last brave defenders were consumed in their remorseless fire"(Horne 86). However, Horne takes the history one step further byportraying the "airmen" as real, living, breathing men who had a highchance of dying in their aircraft, while remaining quite detached from thewar on the ground. Indeed, this long and drawn out battle seems to representeverything about war, from the horror of death to the glory of saving one'scountry from despair and despotism. " Airshipswere first used in battle in World War 1, and their importance thereaftercannot be denied. Thus, the people affected by the war become even more real tothe reader, and their problems adjusting after the war are evaluated, too.
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