The First World War in 100 Objects

by John Hughes-Wilson, Nigel Steel (Contributor)

A powerful visual and narrative treatment of the "war to end all wars."

"The First World War in 100 Objects" draws on the most interesting 100 items that describe the causes, progress and outcome of the First World War. From weapons that created carnage to affectionate letters home, these 100 objects are as extraordinary in their diversity and storytelling power as they are devastating in their poignancy. This is the stuff of war at its most horrible.

Here are a few of these objects: military significance -- a Vickers machine gun iconic power -- John Singer Sargent's painting, Gassed personal sentiment -- a German button given to a British Tommy in the Christmas Truce of 1914 political importance -- President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points.

These and the other 96 objects are displayed in brief chapters describing the associated people and events and illustrated with full color. The book is carefully organized into distinctive periods of the war and includes these examples:

Imperialism, Nationalism and the Road to War (pre-1914): King George's Imperial Crown; Prussian Pickelhaube helmet; map showing Europe's alliances and animosities

The Shock of the New (1914): "Your Country Needs You" recruitment poster; German jackboots; "Ole Bill," a London double-decker bus used to ferry soldiers to Ypres

Theaters of War (1915 to 1916): Australian Battalion flag; Lusitania survivor's camisole; airdrop message streamer

Mud and Blood (1916 to 1917): Postcard from the Eastern Front; trench club; discipline and desertion charge sheet

From Near-Defeat to Victory (1918): British Mark V tank; "Hang the Kaiser" election sign; Toby jug

A New European Landscape (from 1919): Gun used by German prisoners to shoot seagulls; sketch of the Whitehall Cenotaph; the old Kaiser crown.

"A History of the First World War in 100 Objects" is a distinctive and original presentation of the military and human stories of this cataclysmic war that did indeed change the world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War I, Military History, War, Ebooks, Military Fiction

427 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2014

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has taken me nearly two months to read, and usually, I don't like books lingering in my "currently reading" list that long. This book, I'll let off though, purely because it is a beast in form, and I think this is the kind of book you can pick at, like the lonely bits of meat from a lamb chop.

The book contains 100 object's complete with pictures, relating in some way to the first world war. These objects are actually in possession of The Imperial War Museum in London, which I have yet to visit, but this book has gently reminded me that I need to, and soon.

The objects themselves are in chronological order, which I found helpful, but I did notice that the author referred back to previous chapters rather frequently, which did get a little irritating at times.

Overall, this book was an interesting insight to objects that shaped the first world war, and would probably be an excellent addition to a person's coffee table.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is, as the title might imply, a history of WWI told through various objects held in sundry museums, with the Imperial War Museum seemingly foremost among them. The book is presented in 100 chapters, and at the start of each chapter of a specific item relating to the war is portrayed in a gorgeous photo. There follows a narrative relating to the object on display and the progress of hostilities at the time that the displayed object was relevant. The book proceeds in roughly chronological order, with Archduke Ferdinand's slashed and bloody tunic being near the front of the book and postwar cenotaph plans displayed in the very last pages.

Many different glimpses of the war's effect on the world will be encountered in these pages, ranging from the deadly serious Vickers machine gun to light-hearted roll of toilet paper with the image of the Kaiser printed on each segment. Some pertinent relics of a civilian nature are included as well, like the camisole belonging to a woman who survived the sinking of the Lusitania.

This is an easy book to read; it can be put aside between chapters without having to worry about losing your train of thought. Each chapter is self-contained in that every chapter starts with a completely new topic. In spite of being generously illustrated, this is not merely a picture book; much can be learned in these pages.

[Checkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the British approach to history books. I have heard others call it "stodgy" and "staid", but I disagree. For me the British approach is correct and proper. The British don't sensationalize historical events, but rather look at events in depth and make history come alive. This book looks at 100 objects ,that are held by the Imperial War Museum, examines the items and the event or person that the items are associated with. The objects are in a chronological order - moving through the war years and the years immediately following the war. Some of the objects receive a page while others receive three or four pages. The objects vary from the fountain pen used to sign the Irish Home Rule Act in July 1914 to a soldier's helmet. The big and the small. I like this approach. We often relate to history by looking at and touching items from the past. It gives us a physical connection to those who lived before us (I will always remember the thrill that I received when I was able to touch the wall of the Coliseum in Rome) and this book is part of that linkage. A unique and fascinating book.

[Erika Schoeps · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOLY ****

I finished this monster of a book.

Perfect for reading in small chunks -- the item's descriptions move in chronological order, but the book participates in a lot of summarizing and re-stating so that you never forget anything important or fundamental. When reading for long periods, I would get annoyed with all the re-stating and referencing back to previous chapters.

The pictures are fantastic, making me want to go to the museum itself. Really high-quality artifacts connected to interesting smaller stories. They use the micro-stories of the objects as a starting point to launch into surrounding aspects of World War I. I've read and listened to quite a bit about World War I, so a lot of this book, especially the beginning, was a retread. I still enjoyed it and kept reading. I learned new stuff about specific aspects. The end actually covered a lot more new ground than I'm used to; aspects of the final days that I had not read before at all. I'm unsure if this is because historians just get tired at the end of their histories, or if it's common practice to focus on other stories/aspects (or if I just get tired and lose my attention span, lol). But the end was probably the best part for me.

Would highly recommend to anyone who isn't a World War I scholar but considers themselves very interested -- interested enough to read a pictoral bible of WWI.

[Jamie Carlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly scattershot history of the first world war that attempts to do too much in terms of focusing on broad narrative, specific battles, personal experiences and linking everything together both chronologically and thematically throughout the book and manages to leave the entire experience feeling slightly rushed.
The historic content itself is quite good, and mostly impartial, but very much tends to the idea of trying to "right the wrongs" of the historic biases of first world war reportage, without giving the context to let the reader decide what they think themselves.

[Richard Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb history of the first World War presented as short essays each prompted by an object. From the grand to the humble each object is used to illustrate the events of what is still called 'The Great War'.
The essays concentrate on the war from the Allied perspective but the Central Powers are not ignored and their achievements are given due acknowledgement.
The sadness pervading is that this 'War To End All Wars' would have consequences in its peace that would lead to a far more horrific and terrible conflict.

[Joe Corrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I acquired a number of books on the First World War / Great War during the centennial period (2014 to 2018) to do research in support of a blog I was doing for Lang Pioneer Village Museum to chronical the involvement of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and my grandfather in the war. This book presents the war from the perspective of 100 artifacts in the collection of the Imperial War Museum in London. I visited that museum on my trip to Great Britain in the late summer of 1977. The book is a detailed history of the events of the war and its impact on individuals through the interpretation of these artifacts. It takes the history from a geopolitical and military level to a human level and as such, is well worth the read.

[Savina King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant way to see history, through objects that have been handled by real people, each with its own story. Ultimately it is possible to visit the imperial war museum and view them in reality. As it is now more than 100 years after world war one, it is good to remember where we have trodden on this planet and what we leave in our wake.

[Roger Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book approaching the history of the First World War through 100 varied objects held at the Imperial War Museum. Each object is described and placed in context but there is also a narrative running through the book outlining the history of the conflict from all sides.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly excellent, informative, accessible and easy way to read about Britain's role in WWI.

[Martin Rush · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good selection of various great war objects .easy to read book.

[William Vourlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the tunic of Archduke Leopold, it was a chilling sight.

But my favorite was the rifle of TC Lawrence.

It belonged to either an Australian or British soldier at Gallipoli, who was killed and the weapon seized. Then that rifle was taken by a Bedouin or other Arab guerilla fighter, doubtless in the same manner as from the poor Aussie bloke. Then the rifle was given to Prince Feisal, who then gave it to TC Lawrence.

Lawrence carved his name on the stock, as well as five notches for the five Turkish soldiers he personally killed during the Arab Campaign.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A staid British slightly jingoistic history of the war divided into chapters where each chapter has an image of a thematically central object from the British War Museums. You can read it right through, but the chapters also stand alone. It is an attractive book and (but?) unreferenced. The author claims that the expression "chatting"as in schmoozing comes from times when WWI soldiers were talking and picking chats (lice) from themselves. This seems to be almost certainly incorrect.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about The First World War in 100 Objects. I thought the visual items very helpful in giving a person a physical object to better understand the different aspects of the war mentioned in the book. I did find however the author to be a tad superior in his writing style. Wasn't England marvelous and how Women fighting for the vote were troublesome and so forth.

[David Campton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superb "show and tell" of 100 items from the Imperial War Museum allowing the author to tell the big story of WW1 through the lens of particular events and experiences. A superb resource for generations who are increasingly distanced from the war, and a great encouragement to revisit the museum as we remember the various centenaries.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at one of the most turbulent times in modern history. I loved the use of the objects to tell the story. Each chapter was quite comprehensive, and I enjoyed learning about the history of the objects and how it exemplified some aspect of the war. This is a great book to supplement any study of the era.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating snapshots of all aspects and fronts of the First World War. I feel like WWI doesn't receive much attention in America, but the world was significantly shaped by this war...and WWII may not have happened if things had gone differently.

[Fred Moreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great visual insight into the War to end all wars. I enjoyed the stories that each brought to the history of this great event.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skimmed the last 1/3 because it had to go back to the library.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at the first world war and the objects that were part of this tragic war. Interesting information on little known bits of the war that I didn't know about.