A History of the Great War, With Introduction by Major-General J. G. Harbord, U. S. A

These reviews of recent books of unusual value are based upon lists furnished through the courteous coöperation of such trained judges as the following: American Library Association Book List, Wisconsin Free Library Commission, and the staffs of the public libraries in Springfield (Massachusetts), Newark, Cleveland, Kansas City, and St. Louis.

by John Buchan. Boston, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco: Houghton Mifflin Co. 1922, Four volumes. 8vo. xxxii+552, x+ 578, xii+603, iv+536 pp. Illustrated. Per volume $5.00.

HISTORY, they say, can be seen only through the long telescope of years. Yet we must reckon with Thucydides thrilled by the memory of events which he himself had seen, as well as with the chronicler of Rome re-creating by force of intellect the glory of empire out of its dust. The theory, then, does not always hold. Something there is in a story of great things by one who has felt their tremor and exaltation, their terror and despair, which cannot be recaptured by the measured historian of after years. One may think, therefore, that so admirable an example of contemporary (or almost contemporary) narrative as that of Colonel Buchan’s History of the Great War can have a permanent value. Many characteristics of permanent work it certainly has — a beautiful lucidity of language, a clarity in the untangling of complexities, comprehension, sense of proportion, a dignified but rapid style; while in the high qualities of imagination, feeling, and the sensitive appreciation of the grandeur of the times they chronicle, his solid volumes merit — we would except only Mr. Masefield’s austere story of Gallipoli — the topmost place among the chronicles of the Great War.

And what a task Colonel Buchan set himself — the outline story of the entire struggle. The soldiers are of course in the forefront of his picture; but behind them are the statesmen, their leaders in every country, etched in outline sharp as that which defines the generals; and behind the politicians and the soldiers the vast background of a world — almost a whole world — at war.

Simply as a problem in narration, the task was superlatively difficult. The author must skip from the Aisne to Archangel, from Tsingtau to ‘German East,’ forever leaving his story at an exciting crisis (like Walter Scott) to take up a straggling thread in the snarled skein.

Colonel Buchan is temperate in his judgments and fair beyond the reach of most men who have friends and enemies to write of. Tommy Atkins is his hero, but poilu and ‘Yank’ have a warm place in his affections, while of the tenacity, the courage, and the resiliency of the Germans he speaks, if not as a Christian, at least as an historian. Even of the Russians, whose terrible misfortunes have brought upon them the world’s contumely, he speaks not without sympathy. recalling their vast and necessary contribution to the final victory.

On vexed questions Colonel Buchan is discreet. He gives his emphasis to the western front, but does not skimp the ‘side-shows.’ He upholds the soldier, but vents no abuse on the politicians; while to the scapegoats of the war, Nivelle, Cadorna, Gough, and their mates, he offers not immunity but justice.

A word of appreciation should be said for the maps, which in every campaign are almost as serviceable to the reader as to a general staff.

Surely a book to read, to ponder, and to be thankful for. How shallow and empty is the spirit which seeking happier things will not dwell on those four years into which centuries seemed crammed.

ELLERY SEDGWICK.