When Men Lost Faith in Reason - (Studies in Military History and International Affairs) by H P Willmott & Hedley P Willmott (Hardcover)

About the Book

This examination of the history of the 20th century and the place of war in its unfolding presents a radical, unorthodox interpretation of both. With provision for seeing 1945 as the proper starting point for the 20th century and 1968 as the year that marked the end of the Age of Reason, this provocative study portrays the First World War as the first war of the 20th century and the Second World War as the last war of the 19th. It also provides a counterview of the Second World War as merely one part of a series of conflicts that lasted between 1931 and 1975 and the Cold War as the time when real hatreds were suspended. Moving through various insurgency campaigns, Willmott subjects the Gulf campaign of 1991 to skeptical analysis that is certain to be contentious.

Challenging the view that the 20th century will be viewed by future historians as ranging from approximately 1914 to 1992, Willmott offers this volume as a counter to modern historiography which, he contends, is obsessed with micro-analysis and has lost vital context and perspective. Arguing that war is not the preserve of the intellect, and that it is neither intrinsically rational nor scientific, Willmott depicts war as a manmade phenomenon, complete with all the elements of human failure, misjudgment, and incompetence. He concludes with a consideration of modern doctrine and predictions for the future of war.

Book Synopsis

This examination of the history of the 20th century and the place of war in its unfolding presents a radical, unorthodox interpretation of both. With provision for seeing 1945 as the proper starting point for the 20th century and 1968 as the year that marked the end of the Age of Reason, this provocative study portrays the First World War as the first war of the 20th century and the Second World War as the last war of the 19th. It also provides a counterview of the Second World War as merely one part of a series of conflicts that lasted between 1931 and 1975 and the Cold War as the time when real hatreds were suspended. Moving through various insurgency campaigns, Willmott subjects the Gulf campaign of 1991 to skeptical analysis that is certain to be contentious.

Challenging the view that the 20th century will be viewed by future historians as ranging from approximately 1914 to 1992, Willmott offers this volume as a counter to modern historiography which, he contends, is obsessed with micro-analysis and has lost vital context and perspective. Arguing that war is not the preserve of the intellect, and that it is neither intrinsically rational nor scientific, Willmott depicts war as a manmade phenomenon, complete with all the elements of human failure, misjudgment, and incompetence. He concludes with a consideration of modern doctrine and predictions for the future of war.

Review Quotes

?This book is a provactive, highly original, path-breaking, radical, and unorthadox interpretation of warfare in the twentieth century. H.P. Willmott's interpretations are compelling and persuasive....It is a book that cannot be ignored by those who want to remain on the top of their craft. Wilmott throws down the gauntlet and challenges military historians to reexamine long-held beliefs on twentieth-century warfare....This book should be mandatory reading in all Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, the military academies, the War College, Staff College, and wherever officers are trained. Libraries should have it. Scholars and students of military history should read it. Willmott wrote the book not as an end in itself, but a starting point to reconsider the face of conventional interpretations; however, this book is too important to be overlooked in the study of warfare.?-The Historian

"This book is a provactive, highly original, path-breaking, radical, and unorthadox interpretation of warfare in the twentieth century. H.P. Willmott's interpretations are compelling and persuasive....It is a book that cannot be ignored by those who want to remain on the top of their craft. Wilmott throws down the gauntlet and challenges military historians to reexamine long-held beliefs on twentieth-century warfare....This book should be mandatory reading in all Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, the military academies, the War College, Staff College, and wherever officers are trained. Libraries should have it. Scholars and students of military history should read it. Willmott wrote the book not as an end in itself, but a starting point to reconsider the face of conventional interpretations; however, this book is too important to be overlooked in the study of warfare."-The Historian

About the Author

H. P. WILLMOTT is a Lecturer with the Greenwich Maritime Institute at the University of Greenwich. He has written extensively on modern military and naval subjects, including the critically acclaimed, The Great Crusade: A New Complete History of the Second World War.