Jeff Shaara has enthralled readers with his New York Times bestselling novels set during the Civil War and the American Revolution. Now the acclaimed author turns to World War I, bringing to life the sweeping, emotional story of the war that devastated a generation and established America as a world power.Spring 1916: the horror of a stalemate on Europe’s western front. France and Great Britain … and Great Britain are on one side of the barbed wire, a fierce German army is on the other. Shaara opens the window onto the otherworldly tableau of trench warfare as seen through the eyes of a typical British soldier who experiences the bizarre and the horrible–a “Tommy” whose innocent youth is cast into the hell of a terrifying war.
In the skies, meanwhile, technology has provided a devastating new tool, the aeroplane, and with it a different kind of hero emerges–the flying ace. Soaring high above the chaos on the ground, these solitary knights duel in the splendor and terror of the skies, their courage and steel tested with every flight.
As the conflict stretches into its third year, a neutral America is goaded into war, its reluctant president, Woodrow Wilson, finally accepting the repeated challenges to his stance of nonalignment. Yet the Americans are woefully unprepared and ill equipped to enter a war that has become worldwide in scope. The responsibility is placed on the shoulders of General John “Blackjack” Pershing, and by mid-1917 the first wave of the American Expeditionary Force arrives in Europe. Encouraged by the bold spirit and strength of the untested Americans, the world waits to see if the tide of war can finally be turned.
From Blackjack Pershing to the Marine in the trenches, from the Red Baron to the American pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille, To the Last Man is written with the moving vividness and accuracy that characterizes all of Shaara’s work. This spellbinding new novel carries readers–the way only Shaara can–to the heart of one of the greatest conflicts in human history, and puts them face-to-face with the characters who made a lasting impact on the world.
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A little too much detail in parts, but great writing otherwise. Gave me a real grasp on the events and key people involved in WW1. Kept it very interesting. Covered not just the big picture but showed how things effected the “everyday man.”
5 stars
In this fantastic book about WWI, we meet Manfred Baron von Richoften the “Red Baron” who single-handedly shot down over eighty planes for Germany. He might be mechanically inept, but oh can he fly! He loves being up in the air. He has a Great Dane that follows him everywhere and they seem very well suited to one another. The British …
If you have not read This author (or his father) you are missing a top historical novelist of the modern era. Great research blending non-fiction and fictional characters. I always recommend reading these is series and this book does not disappoint.
Really well done with a wealth of historical content. It shows the disaster and poor generalship of the trench defensive war that killed an entire generation of European males. This is a great read.
Weaves real characters into a historical fiction describing WWI. I recommend this in concert with John Dos Passos’s book “Mr Wilson’s War”.
If you read any of this authors books which are historical fiction I guarantee you that you will feel like you are there
A sprawling WW1 epic which follows the war experiences of Germany’s ace pilot the Red Baron and General “Black Jack” Pershing, as well those of two lesser-knowns who represent American flyers in the Lafayette Escadrille and American Marines in the trenches. One aim of the story is to fictionalize the conflict and its campaigns at the highest …
Like all of J Shaara’s books, he takes you there and you meet people. I enjoy his work.
Shaara researches and writes brilliantly
Illuminated the harrowing experiences of fighting a modern war with old frontal assault strategies. As usual, many generals learn too late that tried and true strategies are often dangerous and costly for the men who have to execute them.
Another outstanding book by a master in historical fiction.
excellent historical novel. It is just like you are there.
Jeff Shaara’s books are very entertaining to read and offer an on-the-ground perspective of the characters involved in great battls and campaigns. He puts a human element in the historical interpretations and captures the sacrifices made by major and minor characters in his work. In many ways the messages are that life is not fair and that success …
This is an outstanding book in the theme of “Pacific” and band of Brothers. All the characters are real people and the associated history is authentic with lots of biographical back up. World War I from the eyes of those who actually fought there and much in their own words,
Historical fiction is not what I generally go for, it’s either hard fact history or literary history (is that a genre?). Regardless this one put a hook in me, a most excellent read.
Another one of my favorite authors! Have read every book by this author. If you like Civil War history a these are the books for you.
Jeff Shara puts you in the driver’s seat
The author of this book has a stilted writing style making it difficult to read. The account of the actual battle is very interesting as are the interactions of the various players.
This is historical fiction at its best
Good narrative history of WW I. Learned a lot about Pershing in particular and the interplay with British and French allies. Particularly interesting to see Petain in his hero days before his later identification with collaboration as the leader of Vichy France in WW II.