Reddit reviews The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919
We found 5 Reddit comments about The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Basic Books AZ
I've had to remove some links from the main post. Added here:
General works - more advanced material
You should read at least one book from the preceding section before looking at books here. They are a more advanced treatment on the topic that may include viewpoints that are not commonly held.
This book discusses the war in general through transcripts of live discussions between leading historians. An unconventional look at the war which ranges widely while avoiding the academic tone of most books - highly recommended.
Sheffield reinterprets the war, debunking the myths of 'lions led by donkeys' and futility which arose from popular culture and powerfully arguing that the war had to be fought, and was won by a British Army which by 1918 was the most effective fighting force in the world.
This book is a narrative of the war that takes a detailed look at the conscientious objectors and the rise of the socialist movement in the context of the greater war. It is highly focused on British people and events.
An in depth look at the origins of World War I with particular focus on Balkans politics and events such as the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.
Seems to be the only recent English language work on the Italian front that I and it brings to light a long forgotten front that had some of the most extreme fighting in the war.
General works - personal accounts
Online resources
This is also a description of how German stormtroop tactics evolved, but much shorter. It is worth to mention because it is available as a free PDF, and good enough that you will find it quoted in books now and then. Gudmundsson's book is a more comprehensive resource but this one has the benefit of being online and free.
Fiction
The classic novel of WWI experiences
Loosely based on his own experiences, this novel helps bring the war "up close & personal".
Mark Thompson's The White War is an excellent study of this front.
Italy was one of our most useful allies!
In all seriousness though, you should also check out the Italian Front during WWI as well. Things were brutal (trench warfare in the mountains) and the army was horribly mismanaged. People always forget about it on account of the Western Front being the main focus.
http://www.amazon.com/The-White-War-Italian-1915-1919/dp/0465020372/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377056930&sr=8-1&keywords=the+Italian+front
This book is a great start. They even practiced decimation. A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway is also a great book about it, although it is fiction and it's generally accepted that he grossly exaggerated his war experiences.
The White War. Covers the fighting in the Alps...a often overlooked part of the war.
It also covers the Italian politics and the incompetence that resulted in the actions taken in the war. Good read.
https://www.amazon.com/White-War-Death-Italian-1915-1919/dp/0465020372/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486621408&sr=8-1&keywords=The+white+war
https://www.amazon.com/White-War-Death-Italian-1915-1919/dp/0465020372