WW1 - Controversial Issues, by Lucian Boia

Has anyone seen this book?
Primul Război Mondial. Controverse, paradoxuri, reinterpretări
http://www.humanitas.ro/humanitas/primul-r%C4%83zboi-mondial
If yes, I'd like to hear your opinion.
After all, it's 100 years since WW1 started, which should be enough time to form a neutral, professional point of view. Hopefully, this book does just that.

Gen. Dénes

I had access only to the first 14 pages. To my surprise, it seems an attempt to cover the whole war, not being focused on Romania. Surprise because usually the Romanian historians have their works focused on Romania.

I have the feeling that the author neglected what happened beyond Europe (the Ottoman Empire included) and The United States, which is not good. Even though fighting in the Pacific, in the Far East and in Africa did not reach the magnitude that reached in WWII, it should not be neglected by any serious work about WWI. Interesting enough, parts in Africa that witnessed serious fighting in WWI were quiet and peaceful in WWII.
I like the most the (real) anecdote with the chief commander of the South African Army, who told with enthusiasm to the South African Prime Minister: "Our army is ready, Sir. With whom should we fight: with the British, or with the Germans?"

This post has been edited by Florin on May 02, 2014 05:58 am

That is because Germany had already lost its colonial empire as a consequence of WWI and Italy was the only Axis country with territories on the African continent, which were limited to Lybia, Somaliland, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

There was I believe some limited fighting between Vichy and Free-French forces in some parts of Africa though.

Interview with the author, Lucian Boia, in Gandul daily, about his controversial latest book (in Rumanian):
http://www.gandul.info/interviurile-gandul...-carte-12558563

Gen. Dénes