The First World War: A Miscellany

by Norman Ferguson

Have you ever wondered who fired the first British shot of World War 1? Or who claimed the glory of downing the Red Baron? And what has Winnie the Pooh got to do with it all? Telling the stories of the battles, the aircraft, the weapons, the soldiers, the poets, the campaigns, and the many heroes, Norman Ferguson delves deep into the history of the "Great War." Through anecdotes and statistics, and drawing on letters, speeches, and official reports, this comprehensive miscellany is a compelling guide to a war that transformed and marked forever the course of 20th-century history.

Genres: History, World War I, Reference

208 pages, Hardcover

First published December 30, 2013

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating overview of the war in little nuggets of information, everything from battles to mysteries to nicknames. There's a chapter on 20 notable people, info on each year, and one on postwar, including the Unknown Warrior, war reparations, shell shock, and the Last Post that is still played at Ypres every night at 8 pm (I've seen this and it's very moving, even after all these years). Highly recommended for everyone who wants to know a little more about the war.

[Piotr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost "How Britain Won the War with Kaiser - in 100 Numbers". Very Brito-centric, to much to be honest. But when you read it while travelling across Pickardy, seeing places like Amiens, Arras, Thiepval... All criticism vanishes. Could be a perfect starting point for those who read nothing on WWI and learned only a bit more. Just but those '100 numbers' it's devastating enough.

[Nadhilla Melia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book full of random facts about the war, some important details, some totally trivial. It is by no means any kind of comprehensive summary but it never promised to be anyway.

[Annette Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this little book of facts and figures.

[Graham Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bite sized factoids of WW1 listed in chronological order, ranging from stories through to numbers and statistics. A book for dipping into or reading in one sitting.

[TJ ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it doesn’t just rehash the same big battles and famous names that most World War I books focus on. It also digs into the lesser-known sides of the war—quirky facts, unusual stories, and details that don’t usually make it into the mainstream history books.

[Justin · Rating 1 out of 5]

If, when a bowel movement is imminent and you are casting about for suitable reading material, briefly consider this inconsequential collection of banal factoids. But if you have a copy of Maxim laying about, plump for that instead--at least Maxim has tits.

[Maryann MJS1228 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think of this as a introduction to World War I for trivia fans. Readers well-versed in the subject won't find anything new but novices could do worse as a starting point. I've read quite a few books on WWI, though I'm far from an expert, and found this a quick, diverting read.