[.ca] To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War (ISBN 0739313312)

Winning the War/Losing the Peace?:
Skillful writing of realistic war scenes: I'll grant Shaara that. However, he is too sure about the wisdom of American involvement in World War 1. The last one & 1/2 sentences Shaara writes are telling: "...clear consensus(sic).If the United States army had not arrived when it did and had not fought the way it did ,the Allies would have lost the war." There is no "clear consensus" grounds here since neither side might have won-If the U.S. had not entered the war. Even Winston Churchill,whose name is not even mentioned in the book,had strong opposition to the U.S. entering the war; even though Churchill was probably at least partly responsible for the "Lusitania" tragedy. Maybe Churchill wanted the threat of American intervention without the actuality. The Germans were apparently ready for an early armistice in 1917, but with the American entry they made horrific attacks,hoping to win the war before the Americans turned the tide. So, millions more died. And the "peace" was lost as both Russia and Germany, outcasts, went on to even worse plans than those of 1917-1918. Without Germany to rein in Russia tens of millions died in the Soviet Union due to Stalin's misrule. One could say that the current world empire was born in 1917-1918; it is this empire which must bear major indirect responsibility for the catastrophic wreckage create by Stalin, Hitler, Mao,etc as well more direct responsibility for the millions dead in war,famine and disease in Korea, Vietnam, Latin America, Iraq & Iran, Africa,etc. Such "glory"! One could argue, of course, that empires have always been "inefficient", to be euphemistic about it, but let's own up to our responsibilities so that more thoughtful days may come. Shaara actually ends his book with two quotes from French Field Marshal Foch(a nine word platitude) and a more telling quote from the French general Mangin, commander of the 10th Army: "...I am proud to have fought with you (American comrades) for the deliverance of the world." May we receive God's glorious peace:Deliver our world from human "glory".

To The Last Man:
Possibly Shaara's finest work, and one of the very best novels ever about WW I.

Good but not Shaara's best:
This novel, like most of Shaara's novel's is entertaining. However, it may be just me but WW1 isn't as interesting as the Civil War or WW2. His most recent novels on WW2 ('The Rising Tide' and 'The Steel Wave')are better stories and better novels. I personally have found them much more enjoyable, but "To The Last Man" is a good read in it's own right. it does deal a bit much in the 'grunt' aspect with a large part of the novel based on the fighter pilots (dog fights). However, if dog fights and fighter pilots are your cup of tea, than this is definetly the novel for you.

AWESOME ON AN OFTEN OVERLOKKED WAR:
Typically great Shaara novel explaining such things as why this was the first time the Marines went to war in Army uniforms.

A Masterpiece:
You can't go wrong with a book by Jeff Shaara. His historical "novels" are really a true history that cannot be told within the confines of a historical work. A historian can't take his best guess at how actual (undocumented) dialogue took place or give you insight into the undocumented thoughts and feelings of historical characters. In other words, a "nonfiction" historical work cannot really make the story come to life in the same way that this wonderful craftsman does. I loved reading about the dawn of arial combat. The incredible prowess and courage of the Lafayette Escadrille as well as that of Germans such as the Legebdary Red Baron. Shaara is very balanced and strives to present a very interesting and informative story that is as close to the truth as practical. There is a character, Roscoe Temple, who is a composite. Shaara used him to tell the story of several different actual US Marines. But I believe that all the other characters, the main ones at least, were actual histtorical figures. I was impressed and felt more than a touch of pride (in spite of the fact that I am anti-war and feel that we probably should have kept out of it) at how the US changed the course of that war. The Marines can be especially proud of their tradition. I highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to be entertained while they are being informed and made to feel like you were actually there.