The Guns of August

by Barbara W. Tuchman, Barbara Tuchman
The Guns of August cover
Good Books rating 4.31
History
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £12.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 6651
  • Added: 2025-11-27
  • Updated: 2025-12-13
  • ISBN: 9780553026696
  • Publisher: Presidio Press
  • Published: 1976-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Barbara Tuchman's 'The Guns of August' is a meticulously researched and vividly narrated account of the events that led to World War I. The book captures the essence of the Gilded Age, filled with kings, Kaisers, and Czars, and the pomp and romance that accompanied war. Tuchman's detailed portrayal of the transition from the 19th to the 20th century focuses on the pivotal year of 1914, highlighting the month leading up to the war and the first month of the conflict. With a keen eye for detail, Tuchman reveals the intricate web of political and military decisions that led to the war and explores why it could have been prevented but wasn't. Her narrative is suspenseful and engaging, even though the outcome is known, making it a compelling read for history enthusiasts and general readers alike.

Reviews
Amazon · 2025-12-13
brilliant 4.50

The book is brilliant and beautifully tells a less well-known aspect of WWI. Tuchman is praised as a wonderful writer.

The reviewer describes the book as brilliant, highlighting its ability to beautifully tell a less well-known aspect of WWI. They praise Tuchman's writing skills, noting her as a wonderful writer. The reviewer appreciates the book's fundamental aspects and its compelling narrative. They find it to be a must-read for anyone interested in WWI.

Quick quotes

    Brilliant! An absolutely fundamental, but less well known aspect of WWI beautifully told.

    Barbara Tuchman was a wonderful writer.

    A must-read for anyone interested in WWI.

Western Front Association · 2025-11-27
compelling 4.75

The narrative is divided into two sections, with the first part focusing on the events leading up to the outbreak of hostilities.

This review from the Western Front Association highlights the book's narrative structure, which is divided into two main sections. The first part, dealing with the 'July Crisis', is particularly noteworthy for its detailed analysis of the events leading up to World War I. The reviewer appreciates the book's historical accuracy and its ability to build a compelling narrative from extensive research. They also note the book's significance in understanding the early days of the war and its impact on the course of history.

Quick quotes

    The narrative arc of the text divides into two sections. The first part deals with events leading up to the outbreak of hostilities, the so-called 'July Crisis'.

    The book presents a veritable grand narrative of the run-up to World War I.

    The book is fantastically researched, building a compelling narrative rooted in copious documents collected from the war.

Lady Dusk · Lady Dusk · 2020-12-15
insightful 3.50

The book is a detailed account of the first month of World War I, but it is a challenging read that took months to complete.

Lady Dusk found 'The Guns of August' to be a phenomenal but demanding read. They describe it as a slog, taking months to push through the 440 pages. Despite the difficulty, they acknowledge the book's thorough detail and its significance in understanding the pivotal month of the First World War. The reviewer appreciates the depth of information but also notes the book's density, which can be overwhelming.

Quick quotes

    A phenomenal slog. It took me months to push my way through this 440 pages detailing the first, pivotal month of the First World War.

    It is a detailed account of the events leading up to and the outbreak of World War I.

    The book is a challenging read but provides valuable insights into the early days of the war.

The Guardian · Guardian Staff · 2014-08-03
brilliant 4.50

The book reads like a novel but is firmly based on historical evidence. It provides a compelling narrative of the events leading up to World War I.

This review highlights how 'The Guns of August' masterfully blends historical facts with a narrative style that makes it engaging and readable. The reviewer appreciates Tuchman's ability to present a complex historical period in an accessible manner. They also note the book's accuracy and the depth of research that went into its creation. The first part of the book, dealing with the 'July Crisis', is particularly praised for its detailed and insightful analysis.

Quick quotes

    The Guns of August reads like a novel but it was history, firmly based on the evidence.

    As Tuchman herself always said, she would not do the 'He said, she said' thing.

    It is a grand narrative of the run-up to World War I.

Appears in Lists