[Coffman] can explain complex matters in a few sharp paragraphs, illuminate technical discussions with personal vignettes, and use statistics to clarify rather than confuse.... Should become standard reading in twentieth-century American history courses.
Indiana Magazine of History
A detailed picture of America's first great world military engagement.
It is quite simply one of the best accounts of US participation in WW I.
The best single volume on the American war effort.
As a reference on the American military presence in World War I, Coffman's book should be a standard for anyone interested in such studies.
"The Embattled Past" is a delightful little book, filled with interesting tidbits about American military history and some fascinating stories about historians, the teaching of history, and historical research.
Bowling Green Daily News - J. W. Thacker
A history of the entire American military involvement in World War I, it is widely regarded as the most authoritative work on its topic.
Indispensable.
Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
"The best single volume on the American war effort." — Allan Millett
"[Coffman] can explain complex matters in a few sharp paragraphs, illuminate technical discussions with personal vignettes, and use statistics to clarify rather than confuse.... Should become standard reading in twentieth-century American history courses." — Indiana Magazine of History
"A history of the entire American military involvement in World War I, it is widely regarded as the most authoritative work on its topic." — Lexington Herald-Leader
"It is quite simply one of the best accounts of US participation in WW I." — Paper Wars
"Indispensable." — Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
"Will surely stand as the first source for anyone interested in the conflict." — Stephen Ambrose
"As a reference on the American military presence in World War I, Coffman's book should be a standard for anyone interested in such studies." — Tallahassee Democrat
"A detailed picture of America's first great world military engagement." — UK News
"The Embattled Past" is a delightful little book, filled with interesting tidbits about American military history and some fascinating stories about historians, the teaching of history, and historical research." — J. W. Thacker, Bowling Green Daily News
<:st>Reprint of the 1968 classic (cited in . Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Supply problems and transportation during a mobilization aren't the stuff of great war stories. At times, the sheer weight of the mundane details makes Tom Weiner's narration more droning than dramatic. However, the logistics proves important in telling the story of an overseas war in which soldiers faced harsh conditions during trench warfare. There’s exciting stuff as well—including the air battles, which Coffman cites as the war's high point—and Weiner runs with that. Coffman also discusses issues such as the poor treatment of African-American soldiers and the Americans' conflicts with their French allies. The author’s wide-angle view of WWI does an excellent job for the serious history buff. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
