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The Battle of the Marne
Book was published in France in 1964 under a different title. The many illustrations and foldout map at rear cover the lead up and battle of The Marne, in 296 pages. The dust jacket is price clipped, has some light surface wear, two tears to two cm and is in a mylar cover now. 01
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1964
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 20, 2026
Henri Isselin's book was published for the 50th anniversary of the battle, and looks to tell the story of those few weeks when Imperial Germany drove all before it and looked set to occupy Paris and bring down the French nation.
Isselin's account starts with a brief overview of the state of play that led the German forces to enact the now famous Schlieffen plan in 1914.
In short this saw the German Army move through Belgium and Luxembourg and move towards, and then looping down to envelop Paris. As we now know that manoeuvre was almost successful but for the steadiness of General Joffre and his French armies.
In helping to progress the story the author provides good Information on all key leaders and the army commanders of France and Germany involved in the Marne battle. We are given brief yet useful outlines of their characters and how they behaved throughout the battle period. The movements of the armies and the engagements between them is well told, and whilst this naturally outlines movements of armies, corps and divisions it does not overwhelm or cloud the narrative making the text suitable for interested readers of all levels on study and experience.
Isselin is also good on the communications (or lack of in many cases) between the formations and how the Generals managed and made decisions using intelligence, field work and even estimations. The German commander von Moltke and the communications with his army commanders, von Bulow and von Kluck in particular is eye opening.
Alongside this high level command and control, the author also provides good detail on how the troops of both sides managed in retreat and advance, and how the hot late summer September sun and then chilly early autumn rains made operations very difficult for man and horse. The impact of artillery, high ground, woodland and natural defences such as rivers is also well described, as is the losses of man and materiel and how that affected plans and tactics.
Overall, this book was a pleasant find in Blackwells' secondhand section in its Cambridge shop, and added to my knowledge of the early days of WWI when the French, Germans, British and Belgians suffered huge losses of men as they fought the battle of the Marne, and what was to become, in its aftermath, the entrenched Western Front and the main feature of four years of bloody war.
My copy was the first English edition published by Elek Books, translated by Charles Connell with an introduction by John Terraine. There are a number of black and white photos and maps, including an excellent pull out map of the German armies progress from jump off points through their routes into France, and the French and British armies at their furthest point in the retreat.
Isselin's account starts with a brief overview of the state of play that led the German forces to enact the now famous Schlieffen plan in 1914.
In short this saw the German Army move through Belgium and Luxembourg and move towards, and then looping down to envelop Paris. As we now know that manoeuvre was almost successful but for the steadiness of General Joffre and his French armies.
In helping to progress the story the author provides good Information on all key leaders and the army commanders of France and Germany involved in the Marne battle. We are given brief yet useful outlines of their characters and how they behaved throughout the battle period. The movements of the armies and the engagements between them is well told, and whilst this naturally outlines movements of armies, corps and divisions it does not overwhelm or cloud the narrative making the text suitable for interested readers of all levels on study and experience.
Isselin is also good on the communications (or lack of in many cases) between the formations and how the Generals managed and made decisions using intelligence, field work and even estimations. The German commander von Moltke and the communications with his army commanders, von Bulow and von Kluck in particular is eye opening.
Alongside this high level command and control, the author also provides good detail on how the troops of both sides managed in retreat and advance, and how the hot late summer September sun and then chilly early autumn rains made operations very difficult for man and horse. The impact of artillery, high ground, woodland and natural defences such as rivers is also well described, as is the losses of man and materiel and how that affected plans and tactics.
Overall, this book was a pleasant find in Blackwells' secondhand section in its Cambridge shop, and added to my knowledge of the early days of WWI when the French, Germans, British and Belgians suffered huge losses of men as they fought the battle of the Marne, and what was to become, in its aftermath, the entrenched Western Front and the main feature of four years of bloody war.
My copy was the first English edition published by Elek Books, translated by Charles Connell with an introduction by John Terraine. There are a number of black and white photos and maps, including an excellent pull out map of the German armies progress from jump off points through their routes into France, and the French and British armies at their furthest point in the retreat.
October 9, 2014
Isselin tells the story of one of history's seminal battles. While some of the strategic stuff involving the movements of armies and corps is a little dry, there is plenty of personality in Isselin's book. He paints the principal characters with clarity and takes the reader into the personal tragedies that were played - and bled - out along the Marne in September 1914.
1st published in the 50th anniversary of the battle, another 50 years have now passed; but the book has lost none of its appeal and is highly recommended.
1st published in the 50th anniversary of the battle, another 50 years have now passed; but the book has lost none of its appeal and is highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews