The theme of this book is the decisive effect of individual human character on history. The background, in sharpest contrast, is a sudden and violent transition to mass collectivised life - to twentieth-century industry civilisation. The principal actors are four national commanders-in-chief: two German, one Frenchman, one Englishman. Theirs was the novel task of directing these new and terrifying forces of mass power in battle. Each had been born and bred in the last age; each belonged to a highly conservative profession. Their abilities and defects reflected and illustrated those of their countries.

Reprint of the 1964 ed. published by Morrow, New York. Included index. Reprint : New York : Morrow, 1964©1963 ; we have 2 copies of the original 1963 edition [c 1 missing]. Includes bibliographical references (pages 365-370) and index.

The tragic delusion: Colonel-General Helmuth von Moltke -- Sailor with a flawed cutlass: Admiral Sir John Jellicoe -- Travail, famille, patrie: General Philippe Petain -- Full circle: General Erich Ludendorff.