The Origins of the First World War: Seminar Studies in History Series (2nd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Overview of the "Great War"
Review: Gordon Martel's contribution to the informative "Seminar Studies in History" series is highly informative, especially for students who are embarking on studying the History of World War One. Martel provides a concise, well-written summary of the historiography on the orgins of the war, as well as an overview of both the events leading up to its outbreak and the deeper causes of the war; such as the alliance system among the "Great Powers" and the prevailing military and diplomatic convictions of the time. Despite his stated intentions to keep his own opinions relatively silent, Martel's views on why World War One occurred are clear throughout the book. Graduate students will also appreciate this book for the historiographical summary it provides. Casual fans of history may want to skip the introduction and go straight to Martel's narrative, which is very good, if not excellent. Martel also provides several important primary documents and some basic maps to guide the reader. Overall, a fine primer on an important subject.