2016 is the second year in the 100th anniversary of the Great War. While little acknowledged here in the States so far, 1916 saw a number of significant events which the library's collections can help readers to understand.

1916 saw the epic and horrific Battle of Verdun where the German army hoped to bleed France white by strangling what became the strategically significant city of Verdun. While this battle raged all through the year, the British under Sir Douglas Haig decided to try and relieve pressure on their French allies by launching the Somme Offensive. This began on July 1, 1916 and with over 60,000 casualties on the first day, marked the blackest day for the British army in the Great War. The battle would continue into the fall of 1916 resulting in hundreds of thousands of additional British and German casualties.

1916 would also see the Easter Rising in Dublin where an early movement of what would become the IRA attempted their first rebellion against The British Empire. The New York Public Library has significant works available to check out and read about these world-changing events. This post is intended to serve as an introduction to popular works that are available in the library's circulating collection.

World War I in 100 Objects by Peter Doyle
A fun look at some of the iconic objects of the Great War. Each item is discussed and examined in regards to its impact in the war as well as its historical significance. Many well known as well as lesser objects appear to surprise and inform the reader.

The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War by Peter Hart
This work takes a vigorous look at the conflict by incorporating many first hand accounts into the narrative. The author places emphasis on the military aspects of the war unlike many over general histories which attempt to be all encompassing with their multi-dimensional approach. The reader will get a solid look why the war was fought and conducted the way it was, and what reasons resulted in such high casualty rates.

The First World War by John Keegan
Respected military historian John Keegan provides a very readable and solid look at the Great War. His approach is informative with insightful looks into the thought process of the time and why the Generals and their Staffs were so limited in how they could control the actions at the front. Once the Trench deadlock settled in on the Western Front by early 1915, there was little that could be done to stop it, until exhaustion started to break down the various combatant nations.

The First World War: A Complete History by Martin Gilbert
This is a very good general history incorporating a lot of recent research on the topic. The book gives the reader a big picture of the conflict while also focusing in on various aspects in more detail. For a general history of the war this is probably one of the better works available.

The Somme: Heroism and Horror In the First World by Martin Gilbert
Martin Gilbert returns with a detailed look at the Battle of the Somme and why it has become so ingrained in the British psyche even to this day. The author shows that despite popular beliefs, the battle plan was actually very carefully thought out and was not intended to be the attritional bloodbath that it unfortunately became.

Verdun: The Longest Battle of the Great War by Paul Jankowski
A very detailed look at the famous battle and how it has become associated with the popular image of the true horror of the First World War. The author takes a look at the German plan which was intended to draw the French army into a gigantic battle of attrition that was intended to be a war winning strategy. On the 100th anniversary this is a fine history to mark the event.

The First World War by Hew Strachan
This is a shortened version of the author's multi-volumed history on the First War. As such it provides a very good look at the war incorporating new perspectives and research. The author tries to show that despite the popular image of the Great War as a deadlock struggle innovations were being constantly introduced by both sides all the time. The advantage one side might gain was often quickly countered by the other resulting in stalemate once again. This process is repeated itself over and over resulting in the attritional nature of the conflict.

The Guns of August by Barbar Tuckman
This has always been the classic look at the outbreak of the First World War. While somewhat dated now by more recent works Tuckman's classic still provides a great look at those decisive opening weeks of the conflict with a sense of excitement which still makes for great reading.

All Quiet on The Western Front by Erich Remarque
This remains the classic fiction work on the futility of the Great War in the Trenches. Showing the German side of the conflict the book was a revelation to the English speaking world at the time of its publication. Today it still stands as one of the great anti-work statements of all time.

No Man's Land: Fiction From a World at War 1914-1918 edited by Peter Ayrton
This is a a great collection of short stories and excepts from many of the great writers of the First World War. From Hemingway to Sassoon, you will get a comprehensive look at how the war seemed to these gifted writers. Their written pathos still reaches out to us today.

Short History of the First World War by Gary Sheffield
Those wanting a short work or a good introduction to the First World war can't go wrong here. While the book lacks the depth of the works cited above, it provides a good background to the course of events on this topic. For the reader who doesn't want a long read or for one who seeks a good intro this is the place to start.

The Great War in Modern Memory by Paul Fussell
This is a thought-provoking work. The author tries to show how the memory of the Great war is seen today in the English speaking world. His discussion of many of the famous authors of the war provides interesting and at times controversial conclusions as to how it was understood then and even today.

The Easter Rising by Michael Foy and Brian Barton
This is a good basic work chronicling the events that lead up to and included the Dublin Rising of 1916. This event is a watershed event in Anglo-Irish relations which still resonates to this day. With its 100th anniversary there has never been a better time to take a good look at what made modern Ireland today.