In Ring of Fire: A New History of the World at War: 1914, authors Alexandra Churchill and Nicolai Eberholst provide a historical account of the early weeks of World War I. Churchill (not related to Winston) and Eberholst document with great detail the early stages of World War I, highlighting the actions taken by main combatants and the impact the fighting had on not only Europe, but also indirectly on the rest of the world.
Drawing on previously unused primary sources in over twenty languages, the authors bring to light perspectives from Australia, Canada, North Africa, Argentina, and beyond. These diverse perspectives helped put forth the view that despite best efforts by many countries, neutrality was virtually impossible in the face of this global rupture.
The book weaves together the experiences of both soldiers and civilians, from colonial conscripts seizing an opportunity or fleeing hardship, to diplomats overwhelmed by the collapse of European stability, to ordinary people caught in the crossfire. These stories helped set the stage for what the next thirty years of history would bring about, both in wars and in the tumult that separated the two global conflicts.
Ring of Fire is a meticulous work that highlights the early weeks of World War I. It serves as essential reading for historians of this war and of the early 20th Century.
MY RATING: 4
