The Pity of War

London: Allen Lane Penguin Press, 1998. A Very Good+ unmarked copy (near Fine apart from abrasion to lower margin of one page of introduction not affecting the text) and some minor marks to top edge with near Fine dustjacket which is not price clipped. xlv + 624 pages. First edition, first printing. 19 figures, 46 tables and 34 illustrations. More than any other event, the First World War defined the 20th century - it killed more than 9 million men, turned four great empires into a multitude of republics, its dire economic consequences condemned the world to its worst modern depression.nThe war spawned seven decades of Communist rule in Russia, mortgaged the British Empire, bled France dry, and thrust world economic power on an unready America. Yet the victor's stated objective of curbing German power was not achieved, the war ultimately made Germany a far more formidable threat, under the leadership of a decorated veteran of the trenches. In the book Professor Ferguson explodes the myths of 1914-18, arguing that the fatal conflict between Britain and Germany was far from inevitable and that it was Britain which needlessly turned a continental conflict into a world war. Having taken this fateful decision, Britain frittered away the enormous economic superiority which would have settled the war swiftly in her favour. PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS A HEAVY VOLUME OF 1.28 KILO UNPACKED WEIGHT WHICH MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COST. 4. First. Hard Cover. Very Good/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.