A Short History of the Great War

A Short History of the Great War by Alfred W. Pollard cuts through postwar confusion with a clear, authoritative account of World War I that remains essential listening for anyone fascinated by the conflict’s scale and consequences. Pollard, writing from the immediate aftermath of 1914–1918, traces the breach of the peace in Sarajevo through the German offensive, the shaping of the Western Front, naval operations, campaigns in the Balkans and Middle East, and the climactic Allied counter-offensives that led to victory. Blending concise strategic analysis with human-scale detail, this history surveys military campaigns, political reactions, and the shifting balance of power without sacrificing readability. Pollard’s contemporary perspective, informed by early 20th-century sources and supplemented by campaign maps and chapter summaries, makes complex movements and decisions accessible to modern listeners. Themes of alliance politics, industrialized warfare, and the search for peace recur throughout, situating battles such as the Somme and Verdun within a broader geopolitical story. A Short History of the Great War is ideal for listeners who enjoy history and war stories, students seeking a compact introduction to the First World War, and anyone wanting a brisk, knowledgeable companion to one of the 20th century’s defining conflicts.