What do you think?
Rate this book
100 Days to Victory: How the Great War Was Fought and Won
Saul David's 100 Days to Victory is a totally original, utterly engaging account of the Great War - the first book to tell the story of the 'war to end all wars' through the events of one hundred key days between 1914 and 1918.
The history of any war is more than a list of key battles and Saul David shows vividly how the First World War reached beyond the battlefield, touching upon events and lives which shaped the conduct and outcome of the conflict. Ranging from the young Adolf Hitler's reaction to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, through a Zeppelin raid on Scarborough, the tragic dramas of Gallipoli and the battlefields of the Western Front to the individual bravery of the first Indian VC, Saul David brings people and events dramatically to life.
100 Days to Victory is a 360 degree portrait of a global conflict that stretched east from the shores of Britain to the marshes of Iraq, and south from the forests of Russia to the bush of German South East Africa. Throughout his gripping narrative we hear the voices of men and women both eminent and ordinary, some who were spectators on the Home Front, others - including Saul David's own family - who were deeply embroiled in epic battles that changed the world forever.
100 Days to Victory is the work of a great historian and supreme story teller. Most importantly, it is also an enthralling tribute to a generation whose sacrifice should never be forgotten.
Saul David is Professor of War Studies at the University of Buckingham and the bestselling author of Zulu Hart, the first novel in the George Hart series, as well as several critically-acclaimed history books, including The Indian Mutiny: 1857 (shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature), Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (a Waterstone`s Military History Book of the Year), Victoria`s Wars: The Rise of Empire and All the King's Men. He regularly appears on television and radio, and recently presented the series Bullets, Boots and Bandages for BBC 4.
The history of any war is more than a list of key battles and Saul David shows vividly how the First World War reached beyond the battlefield, touching upon events and lives which shaped the conduct and outcome of the conflict. Ranging from the young Adolf Hitler's reaction to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, through a Zeppelin raid on Scarborough, the tragic dramas of Gallipoli and the battlefields of the Western Front to the individual bravery of the first Indian VC, Saul David brings people and events dramatically to life.
100 Days to Victory is a 360 degree portrait of a global conflict that stretched east from the shores of Britain to the marshes of Iraq, and south from the forests of Russia to the bush of German South East Africa. Throughout his gripping narrative we hear the voices of men and women both eminent and ordinary, some who were spectators on the Home Front, others - including Saul David's own family - who were deeply embroiled in epic battles that changed the world forever.
100 Days to Victory is the work of a great historian and supreme story teller. Most importantly, it is also an enthralling tribute to a generation whose sacrifice should never be forgotten.
Saul David is Professor of War Studies at the University of Buckingham and the bestselling author of Zulu Hart, the first novel in the George Hart series, as well as several critically-acclaimed history books, including The Indian Mutiny: 1857 (shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature), Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (a Waterstone`s Military History Book of the Year), Victoria`s Wars: The Rise of Empire and All the King's Men. He regularly appears on television and radio, and recently presented the series Bullets, Boots and Bandages for BBC 4.
536 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2013
12 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Saul David
53 books175 followersSAUL DAVID was born in Monmouth in 1966 and educated at Ampleforth College and Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities (History MA and PhD).
An expert in the wars of the Victorian period, he began writing his first history book when he was twenty-five and has since completed eight more. They include: The Homicidal Earl: The Life of Lord Cardigan (1997), a critically-acclaimed biography of the man who led the Charge of the Light Brigade; The Indian Mutiny:1857 (2002), shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature; Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (2004), a Waterstone's Military History Book of the Year; and the bestselling Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire (2006). In 2007 he signed a three book deal with Hodder & Stoughton to write a series of historical novels set in the late Victorian period. The first, Zulu Hart, was published on 5 March 2009 to critical acclaim with The Times describing it as a 'rattling good yarn' with 'a compelling, sexy hero who could give Cornwell's Sharpe a run for his money'. He is currently writing a history of the British Army.
An expert in the wars of the Victorian period, he began writing his first history book when he was twenty-five and has since completed eight more. They include: The Homicidal Earl: The Life of Lord Cardigan (1997), a critically-acclaimed biography of the man who led the Charge of the Light Brigade; The Indian Mutiny:1857 (2002), shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature; Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (2004), a Waterstone's Military History Book of the Year; and the bestselling Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire (2006). In 2007 he signed a three book deal with Hodder & Stoughton to write a series of historical novels set in the late Victorian period. The first, Zulu Hart, was published on 5 March 2009 to critical acclaim with The Times describing it as a 'rattling good yarn' with 'a compelling, sexy hero who could give Cornwell's Sharpe a run for his money'. He is currently writing a history of the British Army.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 8, 2013
I just finished reading 100 Days to Victory and I really enjoyed it. Saul David picks 100 days over the course of the first world war which led to the ultimate victory for the Entente in 1918. He uses his own personal family history - telling the stories of his great uncles who fought in the war, which I found really moving. He also uses the diaries of Vera Brittain to tell the story from a female perspective and to describe the feelings of those left behind at the home front. As well as going into a lot of detail about the battles and military strategies on the Western Front, David looks at the breakdown of the Russian monarchy, the action in Gallipoli, and the input of various regiments imported in from the British Empire, which I found really interesting. He writes in an accessible style, capturing the emotional side of the war without compromising on historical accuracy or objective narration. There are a lot of books on WW1 out at the moment but this is one that shouldn't be missed.
January 1, 2024
I bought this book having attended a lecture from the author which was clear and interesting as anyone familiar with his TV work would expect. He was also charming and polite afterwards with all the people queuing up buy copies of his books.
And the book is consistent with those impressions - clear, slightly provotive but steering clear of outright controversy, highly accessible but unable to avoid the feeling that it has been rushed.
My immediate impression was a comparison to those "100 best" compilations on TV from which you cannot quite manage to tear yourself away, thinking at each stage of the countdown that this will be the last one you watch. So it is compelling and an easy read but relies heavily on a limited number of references and, indeed, very heavily on recent secondary sources. No-one could say this is breaking new ground in this controversial historiography of this pivotal conflict; instead it attempts to communicate in compact synopses the views of other historians. The grapes of Gary Sheffield and others have been distilled for the casual drinker without the curiosty of the experienced drinker. On balance I lean to the views of this wing of historians as they revise the traditional views the British and, I think, Commonwealth public have viewed the war for decades and I think David's more balanced position often more convincing than that adopted by others, such as Sheffield, even though I regularly refer back to his "Lost Victories" book for reference.
The accounts of his family are very welcome particularly when they relate to important dates such as the Second Battle of Ypres. Having said that, I think his excellent explanation of the Turkish treatment of the Armenians concluded rather abruptly - fault of editing surely, rather than avoidance of a controversial conclusion.
Of course you constantly wonder about the choice of dates. I personally would not have picked 3 for the disastrous Mesopotania campaign but picked far more for 1918, surely the key year - so far more than 2 from August to the Armistice in Northern France.
A tally shows
1914 - 19
1915 - 21
1918 - 18
1917 - 22
1918 - 18
So could we conclude that 1917 and 1915 were the most important years? I am not sure, but thought-provoking nevertheless.
You will also notice that this table only adds to 98, because he repeats 1st July 1916 from 3 perspectives.
And, yes, as other reviewers write the book has been compiled from a British and Empire perspective but I think he provides enough variety and width. I would only suggest that I would have added one date from a Central Power persective: related to the economic and blockade perspective - surely the key "theatre" they lost.
I would also add a date demonstrating the fact that the British learnt and applied lessons from their early heavy set-backs. That is surely key to the arguments of the revisionists and I think they (and I include David in this camp) would benefit from paying more attention to this aspect.
It is worth pointing out that he inserts some dates of events that are more eye-catching than strategically important - Mata Hari, Edith Cavell and a PoW breakout are examples.
And to the point it was rushed - the only primary sources are family members, from compilations and the excellent Testament of Youth. Good choices, but surely not the results of hours of work. I would have added more cross-references between dates, for example the early references to Hitler's war time experiences did not reappears. Also there are some silly errors would should have been corrected including:
29th August 1914 - "defend East Prussia against the Prussians"
29th April 1916 - first footnote is "ibid" so from a book about the Easter uprising?
Finally David's style raises the question of heroes and villians, certainly on the Allied side. Amongest the latter Wilson appears naive and manipulated, French distrusting, Asquith out of his depth, the commanders at Gallipoli, and the worst of the lot - Nivelle. Heroes - British junior officers, the unsung brave Russians who took Erzerum, Brusilov, British tank crews and of course Commonwealth soldiers.
And the book is consistent with those impressions - clear, slightly provotive but steering clear of outright controversy, highly accessible but unable to avoid the feeling that it has been rushed.
My immediate impression was a comparison to those "100 best" compilations on TV from which you cannot quite manage to tear yourself away, thinking at each stage of the countdown that this will be the last one you watch. So it is compelling and an easy read but relies heavily on a limited number of references and, indeed, very heavily on recent secondary sources. No-one could say this is breaking new ground in this controversial historiography of this pivotal conflict; instead it attempts to communicate in compact synopses the views of other historians. The grapes of Gary Sheffield and others have been distilled for the casual drinker without the curiosty of the experienced drinker. On balance I lean to the views of this wing of historians as they revise the traditional views the British and, I think, Commonwealth public have viewed the war for decades and I think David's more balanced position often more convincing than that adopted by others, such as Sheffield, even though I regularly refer back to his "Lost Victories" book for reference.
The accounts of his family are very welcome particularly when they relate to important dates such as the Second Battle of Ypres. Having said that, I think his excellent explanation of the Turkish treatment of the Armenians concluded rather abruptly - fault of editing surely, rather than avoidance of a controversial conclusion.
Of course you constantly wonder about the choice of dates. I personally would not have picked 3 for the disastrous Mesopotania campaign but picked far more for 1918, surely the key year - so far more than 2 from August to the Armistice in Northern France.
A tally shows
1914 - 19
1915 - 21
1918 - 18
1917 - 22
1918 - 18
So could we conclude that 1917 and 1915 were the most important years? I am not sure, but thought-provoking nevertheless.
You will also notice that this table only adds to 98, because he repeats 1st July 1916 from 3 perspectives.
And, yes, as other reviewers write the book has been compiled from a British and Empire perspective but I think he provides enough variety and width. I would only suggest that I would have added one date from a Central Power persective: related to the economic and blockade perspective - surely the key "theatre" they lost.
I would also add a date demonstrating the fact that the British learnt and applied lessons from their early heavy set-backs. That is surely key to the arguments of the revisionists and I think they (and I include David in this camp) would benefit from paying more attention to this aspect.
It is worth pointing out that he inserts some dates of events that are more eye-catching than strategically important - Mata Hari, Edith Cavell and a PoW breakout are examples.
And to the point it was rushed - the only primary sources are family members, from compilations and the excellent Testament of Youth. Good choices, but surely not the results of hours of work. I would have added more cross-references between dates, for example the early references to Hitler's war time experiences did not reappears. Also there are some silly errors would should have been corrected including:
29th August 1914 - "defend East Prussia against the Prussians"
29th April 1916 - first footnote is "ibid" so from a book about the Easter uprising?
Finally David's style raises the question of heroes and villians, certainly on the Allied side. Amongest the latter Wilson appears naive and manipulated, French distrusting, Asquith out of his depth, the commanders at Gallipoli, and the worst of the lot - Nivelle. Heroes - British junior officers, the unsung brave Russians who took Erzerum, Brusilov, British tank crews and of course Commonwealth soldiers.
Read
May 18, 20253.5/5. Very detailed covering of the war and key events in a relatively short book. Became a little bit grindy towards the end but perhaps the sheer horror or events especially from 1916 onwards just become too much
March 22, 2018
A fantastically accessible and well written history of the war. David sets out to cover as many different experiences of the war as possible, and largely succeeds.
September 28, 2021
Good overview of the war, easy to read and introduced some less familiar aspects. My only criticism was it felt like there was a slight Allies/British bias to the spread of the days chosen.
December 16, 2023
A brilliant insight into WW1, so many things I didn't know.
February 22, 2014
Frustrating. Gave up at page 220. Having to read each paragraph three times because I started daydreaming is not my idea of a good read from someone touted as a master story teller.
Each sentence so jam-packed with (I'm sure) useful information, but almost every chapter was like the Battle of Jutland — I was bombarded with exploding fact-shells that seem vital for full comprehension, but ultimately counterproductive to a flowing narrative. That's exactly where I left it, at the Battle of Jutland. I surrender; I can't take this density of fire. Had to snap the book shut before I sank even further into a sea of self-loathing, an exercise in stiff upper lip reading.
Perhaps this book is custard to some, but to me it was an ocean of treacle. I'll happily pitch it into No Man's Land and let the enemy read themselves to death.
I'm aware this is quite a scathing review, but honestly, it's one of those books that makes you wonder if you're stupid because you can't bring yourself to agree with the praise printed on the dust jacket. I admit expectations are the ruin of enjoyment, but a master story teller should, I feel, make a book enjoyable.
Each sentence so jam-packed with (I'm sure) useful information, but almost every chapter was like the Battle of Jutland — I was bombarded with exploding fact-shells that seem vital for full comprehension, but ultimately counterproductive to a flowing narrative. That's exactly where I left it, at the Battle of Jutland. I surrender; I can't take this density of fire. Had to snap the book shut before I sank even further into a sea of self-loathing, an exercise in stiff upper lip reading.
Perhaps this book is custard to some, but to me it was an ocean of treacle. I'll happily pitch it into No Man's Land and let the enemy read themselves to death.
I'm aware this is quite a scathing review, but honestly, it's one of those books that makes you wonder if you're stupid because you can't bring yourself to agree with the praise printed on the dust jacket. I admit expectations are the ruin of enjoyment, but a master story teller should, I feel, make a book enjoyable.
November 17, 2013
The course of the first world war via the events of 100 days in the conflict. Although this book describes them very well, the sheer butchery and disregard for human life shown by those running the war will be of no surprise.
The most touching part of the book is Vera Brittain (AKA Shirley Williams's mom) losing her fiance, then shortly after, the War Office cocking up and sending her and his family back his belongings, including, incredibly, the blood soaked tunic, complete with bullet entrance and exit wounds, he'd died in.
She lost her brother, her fiance, and her two best friends in the war. It's hard to imagine suffering horrible loss like that these days, fortunately.
The most touching part of the book is Vera Brittain (AKA Shirley Williams's mom) losing her fiance, then shortly after, the War Office cocking up and sending her and his family back his belongings, including, incredibly, the blood soaked tunic, complete with bullet entrance and exit wounds, he'd died in.
She lost her brother, her fiance, and her two best friends in the war. It's hard to imagine suffering horrible loss like that these days, fortunately.
June 17, 2014
A fascinating take on WW1, taking 100 days and highlighting the events that shaped the War on each of them. Maybe a bit technical in the description of some of the battles, but very impressive on some of the lesser known events in the Middle East or the Eastern Front-and especially on the Home Front and tragedies like the shelling of Whitby and Scarborough and the bombing of Folkestone. Most amazing fact-that one of the 21 mines set below the Messine Ridge near Ypres is still there, and live-19 exploded in June 1917, and the other was deliberately set off in 1955!!
March 15, 2014
One hundred vignettes of the war that give a fairly complete picture of the whole. Informative and entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews