First World War historiography

The First World War is fascinating enough, but the historiography of the First World War – the history of its history – is also fascinating.

Here are two recent historiographical accounts of the First World War I found particularly interesting.

Simon Heffer, writing in the New Statesman:

The historiography of the war began when the war did.

William Philpott, writing in the TLS, on three recent histories of the First World War:

Describing it [WWI] is straightforward, but explaining it is difficult, understanding it, even more so. In the centenary free-for-all there will be rehashing alongside reinterpretation, and expertise or originality may not count for much.

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