Title: To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918
Author: Adam Hochschild
First published May 1, 2011
448 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780618758289 (ISBN10: 0618758283)
Rating: 4.14
Overview
Adam Hochschild’s To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 is a poignant and gripping account of one of the most catastrophic events in human history. The book delves into the senseless violence that marked World War I, exploring the lives of its critics and heroes alike.
In a narrative that is both thrilling and haunting, Hochschild brings to life the moral drama that unfolded during the war, chronicling the struggles of those who spoke out against it, even as they faced imprisonment and ridicule. Among them were journalists, writers, and pacifist campaigners who risked everything to oppose the war.
With vivid prose and meticulous research, Hochschild paints a vivid picture of a time when the world was engulfed in violence and bloodshed. To End All Wars is a timely reminder of the need to learn from history, and to work towards a more peaceful future.
About the Author
Adam Hochschild was born in New York City and had some pivotal experiences during his college years. He spent a summer working on an anti-government newspaper in South Africa and worked briefly as a civil rights worker in Mississippi in 1964.
These experiences would later be written about in his book, Finding the Trapdoor. Hochschild was also involved in the movement against the Vietnam War and later worked as a writer and editor for the leftwing Ramparts magazine.
In the mid-1970s, he co-founded Mother Jones.
Hochschild’s first book, Half the Way Home: a Memoir of Father and Son (1986), is a memoir about his difficult relationship with his father. He has since written several other books, including The Mirror at Midnight: a South African Journey (1990; new edition, 2007), The Unquiet Ghost: Russians Remember Stalin (1994; new edition, 2003), Finding the Trapdoor: Essays, Portraits, Travels (1997), which is a collection of personal essays and reportage, and King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa (1998; new edition, 2006), a history of the colonization of the Congo by Belgium’s King Léopold II.
His book Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire’s Slaves, published in 2005, is about the antislavery movement in the British Empire.
Hochschild’s articles have been published in various prestigious publications such as The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times Magazine, and The Nation. He was also a commentator on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered.
Hochschild’s books have been translated into twelve languages.
Hochschild frequently lectures at Harvard’s annual Nieman Narrative Journalism Conference and similar venues. He lives in San Francisco and teaches writing at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley.
He is married to sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild.
Editoral Review
To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 by Adam Hochschild is a historical narrative about World War I that delves deep into the motivations and experiences of individuals on both sides of the conflict. Hochschild is a renowned historian and author of several works including King Leopold’s Ghost, a widely acclaimed book on colonialism in Congo.
The book offers a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the factors that led up to the war, the human toll of the conflict, and the aftermath that shaped the modern world. Hochschild’s writing style is engaging and eloquent.
He combines historical facts with personal anecdotes to provide a human face to the events that transpired over a century ago. In To End All Wars, Hochschild emphasizes the role of ordinary people in shaping the outcome of the war.
Through the stories of soldiers, nurses, conscientious objectors, war correspondents, and politicians, the book provides a comprehensive view of the war and its consequences. The book’s plot is centered around the lives of several key figures, including British nurse Edith Cavell, German soldier Max Plowman, conscientious objector James Jolliffe, and socialist politician John Redmond.
In addition to these individuals, Hochschild also sheds light on some lesser-known figures who played significant roles during the war. The book is divided into three parts, each of which portrays a different aspect of the conflict.
The first part covers the pre-war years and the events that led up to the outbreak of hostilities. The second part focuses on the war itself and its impact on the people involved.
The third part deals with the aftermath of the war and the efforts to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again. One of the strengths of the book is its attention to detail.
Hochschild provides a deep analysis of the political, social, and economic factors that led to the war, and how these factors contributed to the eventual outcome. He also delves into the psychological toll of the war on the soldiers and civilians, detailing how trauma and loss impacted their lives.
The book also brings out the themes of loyalty, honor, and rebellion that are central to the narrative. Another strength of the book is the vivid and well-drawn characters.
Hochschild portrays the characters with empathy and sensitivity, making them come alive on the page. Despite their flaws and differences, readers are drawn into their personal struggles and triumphs.
The characters offer a window into the mindset of people living through a time of great turmoil and change. Hochschild does an excellent job of showing how these individuals were deeply affected by the war and how it shaped their lives.
In terms of weaknesses, the book can be a bit slow-paced at times, especially when the focus shifts to the political aspects of the conflict. However, this is compensated by how the author handles the characters and the psychological dimensions of the story.
Overall, To End All Wars is an outstanding work of historical writing that is both informative and engaging. The book offers a fresh perspective on World War I, shedding light on some lesser-known aspects of the conflict.
This makes it an excellent read for anyone interested in history or current events, as it provides valuable insights into the political, social, and psychological factors that shape our lives. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
