The Guns of August

By: Barbara W. Tuchman

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Tuchman here brought to life again the people and events that led up to World War I. With attention to fascinating detail, and an intense knowledge of her subject and its characters, Ms. Tuchman reveals, for the first time, just how the war started, why, and why it could have been stopped but wasn't. A classic historical survey of a time and a people we all need to know more about, The Guns of August will not be forgotten.

©1962 Barbara Tuchman, Renewed 1990 by Lester Tuchman (P)2011 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Fascinating.... One of the finest works of history written.... A splendid and glittering performance." ( The New York Times)

Pay attention!

Phew, this was a difficult book to digest in the audiobook format. Neither is it easy to digest in a paper book format. It is dense. It is detailed. Names and places and battles are thrown at you in rapid succession. You have to remember who is who, which corps is fighting where and its number, the title of each commander and more. You do not have time to stop and think and recall what was told to you minutes/pages or even hours/chapters before. You need more than a detailed map because you don’t have much time to spend looking at that map. What you need most of all is a good memory, a good knowledge of history and geographic knowledge before you even pick up the book. OR you can read this book to begin learning and accept that there will be parts that go over your head. That is what I did, and I enjoyed much of it, but I also spent time exasperated since there were sentences I had to think about and ponder before I understood their implications. I had to rewind and write notes and search on the internet.

Does this mean I regret reading it? My response is emphatically no.

Much of the book is set in Belgium and France. (It also covers the Eastern Prussian Front.) I have been to many of the towns, cities, citadels, squares, forests and rivers named. Knowing the history of what happened where I have walked is special to me. I am a bit unsure if it would mean as much to one who has not been there. If you have been in the Ardennes you immediately understand the difficulty of moving artillery around there. Having walked in Leuven, Dinant, Mons, Charleroi and Namur, to name a smattering, when you hear of the burning and sacking and murder of hostages, you more intimately understand. I believe my own experiences, rather than the writing made the events real.

It is important to know that this book is focused primarily on the military battles of the first month of the war. Why? Because what happened then set the course for the four years that followed. You might as well be told that the primary focus is military because that will not appeal to all. The start of World War One is all about the idiosyncrasies of generals. It is about a lack of communication. It is about men who have decided on a plan and from that they will not budge.

The narration by John Lee was fine, but he does not speak slowly and that might have made things a bit easier. Some say he speaks with a Scottish dialect. That is fine by me!

I will tell you why I liked this book. I now have the basics for how the war started. I appreciate knowing what has happened to the people living around me here in Belgium; I understand them better. I understand why they so quickly capitulated in the Second World War. Today there is so much squabbling going on between the Flemish and the French people of Belgium. It was wonderful to see how in the First World War they fought united, as one people, for their independence and very existence. I needed to learn of this.

The most pivotal month of the 20th Century

The events that unfolded in Europe during July and August of 1914 would decide the fate of the world for the remainder of the 20th Century. The fall of the monarchies of Europe, the Russian Revolution and rise of the Soviet Union, the Second World War, and the Cold War - all these events have their root in the summer of 1914.

Barbara Tuchman's account of the opening days of the First World War is a great read, whether you are seasoned in the history of the period or coming to the subject cold. In fact, it is probably the best starting point for those with little to no knowledge of the Great War.

She begins the book with a description of European society at the dawn of the 20th century, the colonial and arms race of the preceding century, and the various treaties that tied the Allied and Central Powers to one another. Focus then shifts to the assassination in Sarajevo, the diplomatic mishaps that followed, and finally mobilization of the armies and the first shots of the war.

This book, along with "A Distant Mirror," "The Zimmerman Telegram," and "The March of Folly," make Barbara Tuchman one of the more remarkable popular historians of the last hundred years. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Solid 5-stars

Best history on the origins of WWI

I have loved this book since I first read it many years ago and was not expecting any surprises. Nonetheless, I was surprised in the best possible way.

This is a complicated book with many different players, from the the British High Command to the Czar and the Kaiser. The narrator managed to bring them to life and because of the very high quality of his reading, it was actually easier to keep track of the various personalities.

As well as I know this book from previous reading, it was like reading it for the first time. It was, in short, great.

This is a classic. It is brilliantly written, highly entertaining, detailed, and wonderfully well read. In my opinion, this is the best book ever written about the origins of the first world war. It explains so much and so well that anyone who has any interest in history should read it. If you have, as I have, read it before, listen to it again because you will be delighted with this production. It's great.

Fascinating, gripping and enlightening

Where does The Guns of August rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best audio books I've ever listened to. If you think that the assassination of an Austrian Duke was the spark that lit the fires of WW I, then think again. The truth is much more complex and, as described in this book, much more fascinating.

This is a book that doesn't just describe actual historical events. It imbues them with life, action and suspense. Yes, even though we all "know" what happened at the beginning of WW I, Barbara Tuchman manages to keep us in suspense.

Her descriptions of the characters involved in these world shattering events brings them vibrantly to life in the mind of the reader.

What other book might you compare The Guns of August to and why?

I would compare this book in terms of the quality of writing and it's ability to keep an iron grip on your interest, to "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond and "The Zimmerman Telegram" also by Barbara Tuchman.

What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator was brilliant. He could do convincing accents from every part of the world: British, German, French, Japanese, American, you name it, he could do it.His narration was crystal clear but never monotone or boring. He had a great flow.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

If you think that any leader we have in the world today is somehow above human frailties, errors and idiosyncrasies, then you need to listen to this book. You will see just how human they really are and just how susceptible to imperfection they are.

If you want to learn something about humanity and how not to fall into the same traps that humanity has in the past then listen to this and other books like it.

If you want just a good read to pass away the time, whether commuting or otherwise, then listen to this book. It presents history, historical players and historical facts with the excitement, suspense and entertainment of a novel.

Narrative history at its best

Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated with World War One and the huge transition point it represented in history. Despite knowing a good bit about the subject, I was still very impressed with The Guns of August. Tuchman accomplishes what few history writers pull off, which is to make readers forget what they know about history and see its drama unfold through the eyes of people at the center of events, who didn't know what would happen next. The book’s very detailed, but has the sense of narrative of a novel.

Tuchman opens, with a fitting sense of moment, at the 1910 funeral of King Edward of Britain, where the heads of future belligerent states gather on still-cordial terms. From there, she sets the stage with a portrait of Europe as it stands in the early 20th century, and the policies, mindsets, histories, and cultural attitudes that shape each country's leaders, as they look towards a war that everyone is certain will come. She captures the relationships and self-fulfilling expectations that drive those leaders towards fateful decisions, like players in a Shakespearian tragedy, and the gears and wheels of military plans inexorably grinding forward while diplomats search in vain for the "halt" button. Then comes the tremendous drama of the war's first weeks, when vast armies are in motion, the fate of nations hangs in the balance, and choices are made that will come back to haunt both sides. While there are probably better "academic" works on the war and books that better capture the horrors of trench warfare, I don't know of any that so well explains the key players and the flow of events, while conveying the excitement, fear, hope, and desperation that gripped each country as the crisis exploded. It was hard not get a little caught up in the emotions of events, such as the brave defense of Belgian forts, even knowing that initial success wouldn’t last against overwhelming forces.

Is Guns of August a perfect work? Probably not. Like all historical writers, Tuchman has her biases, and seems to put primary blame for the war on Germany. In her version, they’re aggressors who blindly refuse to put aside preset invasion timetables, even when the option of avoiding war with a less menacing France seems at hand. Other historians probably have more subtle pictures. Also, Tuchman covers politics and battles in equal levels of detail and some readers might get bored with the play-by-play descriptions of maneuvers and clashes that fill the latter half of the book (though I enjoyed that part myself).

However, the positives far outweigh the negatives. As a chronicle of a crucial forty days in human history, The Guns of August remains fresh and alive even half a century after its first publication (when much was still in living memory). On the audiobook experience, I thought that the narrator did a good job with French, German, and Russian accents. Apparently, there’s another audio version out there, but I don’t know how that compares.

PS. If you enjoy this sort of narrative history, I recommend seeking out Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast, which is more informal, but driven by a similar enthusiasm for recreating the moment of decision.

4.5 stars

So good ....

What an extraordinary piece of writing. I am so glad that I got to listen to this wonder piece of non-fiction. Narration is wonderfully delivered to summarize one of the 20th centuries’ greatest follies. If you are history fan, like my-self, this book cannot be missed. To think that the entire war, in the first month of conflict could have ended in so many different ways, will simply astonish you. One day I will have to listen to it all over again. Thoroughly recommended!

An outstanding historical account perfectly read.

Would you listen to The Guns of August again? Why?

Yes. This book is an important historical account of events in 1914 that shattered the world of that time and for the decades which follow down to this day. The author presents a complex thread of events from the perspective of various major players in a well detailed, clear and interesting manner. She also puts the events into context to help explain what happened and why. An audio page turner!

What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

John Lee's reading made this history come alive. His interpretation and rendering makes it seem like he was describing events as an eyewitness. Certainly not a dry account that keeps moving and makes you wish it wouldn't end. He is a clear and easy to listen reader.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

As an observer of history, the point that struck me most in this book is how the events of this time are a product of inept decisions, self-delusion, stupidity, pride, jealousy, greed and hubris to name a few qualities in play here. And at what cost? History proves true that nothing has changed...except the cost.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend to anyone interested in modern history.

A Vivid, Witty, Suspenseful, and Moving History

From its opening chapter describing the funeral of King Edward of England, Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August grabbed me and elegantly thrust me into its world of Europe on the brink. I had to concentrate to learn the different German, French, Russian, and British names of leaders and places, and, not having maps with the audiobook I could only vaguely envision where the action occurred, but Tuchman's clear prose was so understandable and her history-telling so suspenseful, that I listened to her accounts of the sieges, battles, retreats, and counter-attacks and even of the endless (and often flawed) politicking, strategizing, and communicating on the edge of my seat.

Tuchman is so good at weaving into her story vivid details of character and culture that I empathized with the main players and countries as she rotates chapter by chapter through their different points of view through that fateful August in 1914. She objectively displays the folly of war, the blindness of leaders who warp reality to fit their set plans, the capacity of common soldiers for endurance and sacrifice, the military proclivity for destruction and waste, and the human potential for envy or admiration, prescience or obtuseness, bravery or cowardice, and magnanimity or brutality. And she writes with wit and style, as when she says of the doctrine of "continuous voyage" that, "Prematurely buried by the Declaration of London before it was quite dead, it was now disinterred like one of Poe's entombed cats with similar capacity for causing trouble."

John Lee's reading is flawless. I had to get used to him speaking the quotations in German, French, Russian, British, or American accents, and I almost wish he had just read everything in his usual brisk British voice, but perhaps it helps the listener follow the changing characters and countries.

If you like detailed, absorbing, and witty history books that evoke a particular historical moment and also transcend it, you should try The Guns of August.

Guns of August which I heard in September

What an amazing piece of historical writing. Tuchman shows how August, 2014 was impacted by two failed plans (Plan 17 & the Schlieffen Plan), Generals and politicos who were either overly optimistic at the wrong time or overly pessimistic at the wrong time. She detailed how inadvertent acts by disgraced Generals might have saved France, how the politics and the national moods of France, Germany, Russia, and Great Britain may have contributed to the length of the Great War.

After the Civil War and the War of Franco-Prussian War of 1870, war had morphed into a whole new beast. Few leaders grasped this at the beginning of August but by September 1914 there were very few living on the European continent who could avoid recognizing that war would never be the same again. The vitality and the drama of Tuchman's narrative made this book seemed delivered by 420-millimetre siege howitzers. Chapter after chapter would absolutely devastate me as I listened (and read for the maps and pacing). I am very glad I wasn't in the French (or Belgian or German or Russian) military in August of 1914.

Lee is such a solid narrator. It wasn't a standout, but I have absolutely no complaints. He read well. It was easily listened to at 2.5+ speed.

The Beginning of the End of the World

This is the definitive telling of the month that ended history as we knew it and began our long journey to where we go instead.

Excellent narration.

Diplomacy & Battle

Justly famous book and beautifully read, even if as someone pointed out, John Lee's efforts at foreign accents are a bit hammy. First third of book is the diplomacy leading up to war. Rest is mostly battles and there lies the problem common to so many books about warfare. Without the right map infront of you, you quickly become confused. Even with a map following a written account of a battle is hard enough. The publishers of war books should make sure the right maps are available, but they don't seem to. So recommend you search the web for ww1 and maps. The Vox site for instance has some excellent ww1 maps.

Superbly narrated

The narration of this book is of the highest order. I cannot imagine an improvement. As someone familiar with both German and French, the accents are done perfectly.

A fascinating history, is it a prediction of the future?

Tuchman's book focuses on the origins of World War I, beginning in the early 1900's and ending with an afterword encapsulating the First Battle of the Marne, when Germany was forced to retreat and the war collapsed into the static stalemate for which it is best known. Covering both the Western and Eastern front and their interplay, including the Mediterranean and USA but focusing on Germany, France, the UK and Russia, her book succeeds in painting a comprehensive history.

Whilst history, especially military history, can be a dry sequence of events, Tuchman's greatest success is that it is not. Although she describes what happens, it is always in the context of the senior figures in all the countries. What's more, with deep primary research and a rich array of biographic information, she is able to draw out their character, the challenges they faced and so how they responded. In this way, the cause of the war is not painted as either the result of individual's foibles and predilections, nor as a result of forces beyond human control, but the combination and interplay. The result is both fascinating and, I think, deeply insightful.

Finally, I reflect on the current world we live in, and that of Europe in 1913. It is often claimed today that war is impossible - the European, global or regional economy is just too interconnected. Reading the Guns of August is revelatory. Because it was also the common opinion then that war was impossible, even as the senior figures stepped, increment by increment, closer to a conflict that was as inevitable as it was impossible to predict in any detail. The world we live in today is the same, and reflecting on Russian hybrid warfare, cyberwar and the way economic power is used geopolitically makes me sadly confident that another war is certain, just as I am also certain it will be impossible to predict until well after it has started.

Al

Superb. My first history book on audible and hard to imagine a better one. Incredible narrative, astounding, horrifying and gripping in equal measure. The narrator was, for me, second to none, clear and impassioned. I personally loved to accents, they may not be perfect but they are clearly either meant to be German or allied, which helps to keep track of the huge cast of characters. A must.

increadible feat of literature

How would you begin to describe the opening moves of WW1? Here is the answer.

Brilliant

Brilliant. A classic account of the beginning of WWI. Mainly focussed on the military manoeuvres and political machinations, but her other book on the lead-up to WWI The Proud Tower, does a great job of describing society and culture of the period.

A great, engaging book

This book provides a lot of detail by concentrating on just the first month of the War. This allows the book to cover events in a depth that you don't often get with books about the First World War.

Brilliant

Informative and entertaining, would be a real page turner in paperback.

Well worth the purchase.

Disappointed listener!

An incredibly good book marred by a tiresome reader. While it is clear the enthusiasm for what he reads, I found the indiscriminate emphasis tiring. I cannot appreciate the rendering of German names and way of speaking because i do not speak German but I found the treatment of French names and speech a distraction.

Why the funny voices?

What didn’t you like about John Lee’s performance?

Awful, awful French, German and Russian accents that wouldn't be out of place in "'Allo. 'allo".