Centennial Essays on the First World War

Strachan, Hew.  The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War.  New York: Oxford
         University Press, 2014.  New edition.  ISBN: 978-0-19-966338-5

If you are looking for an readable, easily comprehensible digest of the First World War, you could do much worse than reading the new edition of The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War.   In the book, you will find discussions on tactics, strategy, examinations of the various fronts alongside munitions, technology, peace negotiations, and memory

Hew Strachan once again brought together a group of historians writing essays in 24 chapters.  The book opens with "The Origins of the War" and closes with "Memory and the Great War".  In between are essays on aerial warfare,  Central Power and Entente Power strategies, economics, women, politics, propaganda, and peace.  The one new essay is Robert Gerwarth's "No End to War" which examines when the conflict actually ended, especially in the East and Middle East.  Several of the essays have new authors and most have been updated in light of new scholarship.

The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War (New Edition) is worth reading for its own sake.  But do libraries need to replace their 1998 edition?  That is a decision each library would need to make based on its circumstances and budget.  But if a library or reader is looking for a quick way to review the First World War, The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War will fulfill that need.