Nelson's History of the War. By John Buchan. Vol. XXIII.
(Nelson. 2s. 6d. net.)—Colonel Buchan is nearing the end of his lucid, dispassionate, and well-written narrative of the war. With its numerous maps and its appendices of despatches, it has been of the greatest use to readers who tried to follow the course of this mighty contest. Colonel Buchan would be the first to admit that his book, especially the earlier volumes, will need revision in the light of later and fuller knowledge. But, as it stands, it is of historical value as it represents the views of a well-informed contemporary on the stupendous events that were happening. We often misjudge our ancestors by assuming that they knew as much as wedo of their enemy's plans and prospects; this is true especially of the Napoleonic Wars. Colonel Buchan's book will help the future historian by showing him how much, or how little, was generally known while the Great War was in progress. The new volume begins with " the turn of the tide " after Marshal Foch's great flank attack of July 18th last, and gives a spirited outline of the successive stages of the Allies' final offensive down to October 10th, together with the closing Bulgarian and Turkish campaigns.
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