To The Last Man: A Novel From The First World War
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To an ignorant person, To the Last Man, it is an exceptional description of the First World War and the importance of the United States of America in the war. As a person with non American background, ones familiarity with Americas significance in the World War I is much less as compared to the people of America. Everyone has been well acquainted with their respective countries role in the World War I. Hence for someone similar, this book can prove to be a vast source of information regarding the World War I. There have been many books written on the American Revolution and the World War II but there is nothing much regarding the World War I. World War I has remained unpopular among the writers but Jeff Shaara did a magnificent job in portraying the events and characters of the war and also how Americans came to the aid so that the war would end as soon as possible. “A gripping account of World War I-from tactics to strategy. The reader feels the horror of the trenches in France and is drawn into the maneuvering of political and military leaders on both sides of the battle. Jeff Shaara shows te dominance of the U.S. military in the context of coalition warfare-as relevant today as it was in 1918.” (General Tommy R. Franks)
To The Last Man: A Novel of the World War is a novel regarding the experience of a number of soldiers who fought in the First World War. He shows the valiant lives of the soldiers from both the opponents in the war, the fighter pilots who went blazing in the skies during the sky in the water. Shaara illustrates after good investigation gives the historical facts and stories by his impeccable interpretation. Richthofen also called as Red Baron, is one leading figures from the German army in the book. Major Raoul Lufbery of the Lafayette Escadrille who flew in the French before the entry of America in the World War I is also a major part of the historical encounter. John Pershing, a military commander was sent to France against his intentions was a key part of the American military forces. He was one of the American commanders who were completely annoyed at the different dim-witted strategies of the French as well as the British Army. He also undergoes non-stop stoppages before the American troops can be deployed in the European battlefields. He was the commander who wanted his independent force while the rest were ready to incorporate the British and American armies together. This story of America in the War is described by the character of Roscoe Temple. He gives the personification of the American willpower to drive the enemy that is the German Army back to their homeland. He was Marine who was sent to fill up the gaps created by the deaths of the British and French soldiers who were dead during the war with the Germans. General Erich Ludendorff was also one of the German army officers who served during the World War I. Paul Von Hindenburg was another German commander in chief who was recalled from his retirement and worked with Ludendorff during the war. Basically the book is the story of the war from the point of view of all the four above characters in the book. It depicts how devastating a war can get and at a level which can never be predicted before the war. It leads to the destruction of Germany as a whole. It also gives the position of America in the war even though it actually not completely ready to enter the war.
The main theme of the book, To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War is portrayed by the havoc created by the war and the people who led their respective troops in the war. Shaara throughout the book goes by date to date and chronological order of events that happened during the World War I. This gives an exceptional idea of the role of people involved and the main characters of the book like Richthofen, Temple, Pershing and others. It could be seen from the following conversation that how important Pershing was. “I wish I could have done something to prevent this. There was no cause for the enemy to shell this place.” “No. General, you did far more than we could have hoped. I speak not for myself, but for all the people in this valley. Look before you. The Meuse River has given us the most beautiful valley in France. Now the people can return here without fear” (Shaara 521). The book is dated from August, 1914 which marks the beginning of the war and the German invasion to the December 1, 1918. All the major events are depicted through this dates are precisely given a picture of. The way Shaara describes the incident keeps the reader interested and automatically emotions start bending towards humanity, the armed forces as well as the aerial combats. Every reader feels sympathetic to the conditions and hardships faced by the men in the battlefield. Shaaras writing is very effective in conveying the message what he intends to send. Shaaras views over the war were somewhat prejudiced. It was all about how Americans won the war for the Allies where as the French army was just a mere spectator. “The French? General Pershing with all due respects, the French had nothing to with this. The French have shown us that they cannot face any more adversities without the possibility of complete collapse. What weve accomplished as Messines could well have saved France from being overrun. They have no defense, General. They can barely put an army in the field.