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Reviews
| World War I: Primary Documents on Events from 1914 to 1919, by Ross F. Collins. Westport, CT and London: Greenwood Press, 2008. 411 pages. $65.00, cloth.
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| World War I: Primary Documents on Events from 1914 to 1919 is a topically organized volume which examines various significant themes relating to the Great War. Author Ross F. Collins draws from various American journalistic sources of the period to present a variety of perspectives and political viewpoints. |
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The volume begins with a helpful eight-page introduction on the American press during the World War I years. Collins identifies key points of inquiry, such as the response of the press to the outbreak of war in 1914, the crucial role exercised by journalism after the United States entered the war in April 1917, and the interaction between publishers (such as Hearst) and the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. Although brief, readers receive in these pages a solid framework for what follows. |
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The easy-to-read chronology is also helpful, including as it does events significant from the perspective of U.S. involvement. Thus we see events such as the sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915 and the U.S. declaration of war against Germany in April 1917; but also less-well-known yet important domestic actions like the establishment in April 1917 of the Committee of Public Information, or the murder in April 1918 of German immigrant Robert Prager by a pro-war mob. One shortcoming is the lack of any maps, here or elsewhere; students or other readers would benefit from some geographic reference points of early twentieth-century Europe, the location of many events covered in this volume. |
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Twenty-two topical chapters, ranging from fifteen to twenty-five pages in length, form the heart of this book; all are organized in similar fashion. Topics range from "Who Started It?" (the war guilt question) and "U.S. Foreign Policy in the World War I Era" to domestic concerns such as "Pacifism," "Socialism and Labor," and "Women and War." A three-to-four page thematic introduction opens each chapter. Author Collins has done good work here, providing readers with a well-written, necessary framework for the journalistic excerpts that follow. Each of the documents, in turn, is preceded by several sentences which provide context. |
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The primary source documents, generally one-half page in length, put forward balanced perspectives from a variety of viewpoints, often pro and contra. For example, in Chapter Nine, on "German Culture," five documents open the chapter, arguing the point that German culture was "Good, Misguided." Seven further sources then follow, arguing the point of "Evil, Destructive." A second main topic is featured in the chapter on "German Militarism," which also includes documents regarding "Virtues" as well as "Drawbacks." Chapters Fourteen and Fifteen are dedicated to "Joining the War," which the U.S. finally did in 1917 after much internal debate. Collins presents different sides of this argument, from the perspective of patriotism, politics, religion, and civilizing ideals. Focused discussion questions, useful classroom tools, conclude each and every chapter. |
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How might an instructor use this book? With its topically organized chapters of primary sources, this book is best considered a teaching tool, for educators at the secondary or college/university levels. Indeed, with the exception of a specific World War I offering, it is difficult to envision this volume being assigned as reading in just any level class (not least because of the price and hardback format), but it does lend itself well to having individual chapters or whole sections excerpted, depending on the focus of the class or amount of time available to the instructor. U.S. history survey classes would be a good fit for the material in these pages. The language in the book and chapter introductions is uncomplicated, meaning learners should have minimal difficulties in this respect. Also with regards to usage, the questions which conclude chapter are helpful—with these, instructors have a ready set of discussion topics, or project assignment starters. |
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In sum, World War I: Primary Documents on Events from 1914 to 1919 is a well-organized and accessible collection of primary source documents. The book is useful to instructors at secondary and post-secondary levels as a teaching and learning reference, and can help produce a more complete understanding of the complex World War I years. Classroom applications would be more of an option if the publisher had decided to issue a paperback edition of this volume; priced at $65, few instructors will be inclined to assign it for their students. Libraries, though, are encouraged to consider adding this volume to their reference collections. |
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| Concordia University, St. Paul |
Thomas Saylor |
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