What are among the most informative books to read concerning the First World War?

Question

Please specify why/how you know this.

Answer 1

John Keegan's "The First World War" is a reliable overview/introduction. Hew Strachan's "The First World War" is a masterful synthesis. Kennedy, Paul M. (ed.). "The War Plans of the Great Powers, 1880-1914."(1979) is good for the intentions of the warring parties. Broadberry, Stephen and Mark Harrison, eds. "The Economics of World War I" is the latest word on that topic. For the cultural impact of the war nothing compares to Paul Fussell's "The Great War and Modern Memory". I know this because I am a history professor.

Answer 2

If you're looking for fiction then All's Quiet on the Western Front is an excellent book. The author fought in the War.

And Just FYI: Catch-22 regarding WWII is one of the best books I've ever read.

Answer 3

Verdun by Jules Romains.

Much of it fact written as fiction.
"Of the fearful battles that scarred the last century, Verdun, 1916, in which more than half a million Frenchmen and Germans died or were wounded, stands as one of the most tragic and futile. Jules Romains' novel brings the cataclysmic clash vividly to life, whether in the trenches, or under terrifying bombardments. . . ."

From his 27 volume series Les Hommes de bonne volonté (Men of Good Will). View of French life from 1908 to 1933.

Answer 4

The one and only authoratative source is Barbara Tuchmann's "The Guns of August".

Enjoy