The World Wars by Paul Dowswell, Ruth Brocklehurst and Henry Brook

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I.  When I heard that fact on the radio recently, I started to think about what I knew about the war originally known as "The Great War."  What I realized is that I didn't know much at all.  So I decided to do some research at the library.

Fortunately, I found The World Wars: An Introduction to the First and Second World Wars, published by Usborne.  Not only did  I learn a lot about WWI, I learned about WWII as well.  But what really makes the book outstanding is that it presents what happened after WWI that led to WWII, and how the effects of both wars are still with us today.

Most historians point to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip as the flash that started the war.  But neither of their countries even existed after the war (Franz Ferdinand was from Austria-Hungary; Princip was from Serbia)!  How the map of Europe (and indeed the world) got re-drawn after WWI - and again after WWII - is nothing short of fascinating.

The book is lavishly illustrated and presented in two-pages spread about each particular aspect of the war.  In that way, not only does the reader come to understand the politics behind the wars, but also gains an understanding of the experiences of the soldiers, the civilians, the commanders, and even those opposed to the wars.

If you've ever wondered how there could have been not just one but TWO world wars - and only 20 years apart - this book will tell you.  If you've ever wondered what Serbian nationalism has to do with the formation of the Soviet Union, this book will tell you.  If you've ever wondered how Hitler could have ever come to power, this book will tell you. If you've ever wondered why there's unrest in the Middle East, this book will tell you.

If you've ever had ANY question about WWI or WWII, this book will likely tell you!  An outstanding resource for anyone interested in world history.

You can find it in the Non-Fiction Section, 940.3J/DOW