The War to End All Wars ─ The Story of World War I

A brilliant, concise history of The War to End All Wars.

In the decade leading up to 1914, Europe had never known such prosperity. But the times were not good enough for the continent’s most powerful nations: Germany wanted a navy that matched England’s; Russia wanted an army as large and as disciplined as Germany’s; the Austro-Hungarian Empire wanted more respect; and England felt compelled to teach the others about civilized relations. How terrible could a war be?

In this riveting account of a tragic episode in world history, author Jack Batten takes readers through a far bloodier conflict than mankind had ever before endured. Meet the soldiers who fought the deadly battles along the Western Front. Follow the trail of flying ace Billy Bishop as he tangles in the air with the Red Baron. Learn the strategy of Britain’s Grand Fleet of warships as it heads into the biggest sea battle in history. Discover how civilians decoded virtually all the messages the Germans sent to their ships around the world.

From the Battle of the Somme, Gallipoli, Passchendale, and Vimy Ridge to the war’s final battles, The War to End All Wars evokes the heroism and suffering of men from every country, whose stories changed the face of the world forever. With maps, index, and selected bibliography.

Jack Batten was a lawyer but has become a well-known author, journalist, reviewer, and radio personality. He has written over thirty books, including biographies, crime novels, and books about sports. He has written for magazines as varied as Chatelaine and Rolling Stone. His book The Man Who Ran Faster Than Everyone: The Story of Tom Longboat received Canada’s most important prize for children’s nonfiction, the Norma Fleck Award. Jack Batten lives in Toronto.