Philpott, William: Attrition: Fighting the First World War

Philpott, William

Attrition: Fighting the First World War, Little Brown, London, 2014

The First World War was too big to be grasped by its participants. In the retelling of their war in the competing memories of leaders and commanders, and the anguished fiction of its combatants, any sense of order and purpose, effort and achievement, was missing.

Drawing on the experience of front line soldiers, munitions workers, politicians and those managing the vast economy of industrialised warfare, Attrition explains for the first time why and how this new type of conflict born out of industrial society was fought as it was. It was the first mass war in which the resources of the fully-mobilised societies strained every sinew in a conflict over ideals – and the humblest and highest were all caught up in the national enterprise. (blurb)

Reviewed for Honest History by Derek Abbott. Other reviews in London Telegraph, Wall Street Journal (US edition called War of Attrition), Open Letters Monthly. The author is interviewed and talks about the book.

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