To the Last Man

by Lyn Macdonald

Book Overview

As poignant as Niall Fregusson's The Pity of War, as powerful as John Keegan's The First World War, this is an engrossing eye-witness history of World War I. From the trenches to the battle lines, in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786706635
• ISBN13: 9780786706631
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Timeless

The first person accounts and the poignant memories of those who served in 1918 ring from these pages. It is easy to forget that this conflict took place almost a century ago and the long view through the Cold War and World War II sometimes make the first world war seem almost irrelevent. However, this book brings home the reality of the modern nature of this war, the rifles, the machineguns, the artillery, aircraft and through it all, the timeless, brave faces of the soldiers on the front line. Ms. MacDonald's book does a service to the veterans of the First World War as it puts a face and a human perspective on the horrendous experience of trench warfare. Although the spring of 1918 was more fluid and mobile than many other periods of the war, it still came down to men marching against other men dug into trenches. Positions and yards of front taken in a frightful cost of men's lives. This book has a timeless feel to it and the letters and interviews may gloss over some of the horrors which I think is partially the spirit of the generation and partially the difficulty of dwelling or reporting the horrors to others who were not there, but they do resound with the action, the confusion, the fear and the suffering that is commonplace in all war. This is a great text to read in that it does capture the human aspect of the fight and does not get too deep into units and army group movement. The big picture is laid out as a backdrop that the author then sets the individual soldier's stories against. A tremendous read and phenomenal book.

Very Engrossing Book

This book retells it like it was for the men in the trenches back in 1918. The firsthand accounts provide the common soldier's view not commonly found in most history books. Many memorable moments like the counter-attack made by the London-Scottish, and a Colonel Lowry's escape from the Germans during a rainy night. It is a very readable book and shows the futility of the tactics of the time. One of the best history books I've ever purchased.

McDonald Does It Again

I was introduced to Lyn McDonald about eight months ago when I came across a British copy of her classic Somme in the local library. I have since read 1914 and now To The Last Man. She is the only World War One historian whose works I have actually ever bothered to purchase. Like Ambrose or Cornelius Ryan she captures the soldier's experience only she has done it for World War One. Like most Americans my knowledge of WW1 is sorely lacking, but after reading Somme I have embarked on a personal mission to correct that. I have since read probably a dozen different books on the war and am a semi-regular visitor to the Trenches On The Web forum and I owe it to Lyn McDonald. For the novice her books are very well written and easy to understand. All her books are very generous with detailed maps, both official and ones sketched by the vets she has interviewed. She has quite a few pictures and her pacing is excellent. For the knowledgable historian her books can still offer a fresh perspective and would make a good addition to any library collection on World War One. Also in contrast to Liddle Hart and Wolffe her books are not brimming over with anger and bitterness. No doubt due to the fact that McDonald was born after the war and has the professional historian's perspective, but it does make for easier reading. Though the anger and passion of the earlier historians is understandable it can clutter a book at times. I strongly recommend not only To The Last Man, but all of her works.

Non-com's view of warfare

This is my introduction to Lyn Macdonald. I found it absorbing and am ordering more of her works. My father was in the Canadian army "Over There" and am seeking a similar book about Canadian experiences. Anyone reading this who has a suggestion: please e-mail me Cubbyguy@earthlink.net

Excellent history of how the Germans almost won WW1.

Very few people could tell the dramatic story of Germany's final offensive of WW1, and how near to victory it brought them, as well as Lyn MacDonald. Drawing on first person accounts she brings the drama of the battle home to the reader. Capturing the experiences of the participants is probably the finest service Ms. MacDonald's work performs. I wish all her previous works on the Great War were republished in hardback.