By the time the First World War ended in 1918; eight million people had died in what had been perhaps the most apocalyptic episode the world had known.This Very Short Introduction provides a concise and insightful history of the Great War--from the state of Europe in 1914; to the role of the US; the collapse of Russia; and the eventual surrender of the Central Powers. Examining how and why the war was fought; as well as the historical controversies that still surround the war; Michael Howard also looks at how peace was ultimately made; and describes the potent legacy of resentment left to Germany.About the Series: Combining authority with wit; accessibility; and style; Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer; they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics; from philosophy to Freud; quantum theory to Islam.
#526423 in Books 2016-02-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.40 x 1.00 x 9.30l; .0 #File Name: 0198728778288 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A Volume for OT Students that is Well Worth the Investment!By sojotheoReinhard G. Kratz is Professor of Old Testament at the University of Göttingen. Kratz previously served as an assistant in the Department of Old Testament at the University of Zurich and held a Visiting Fellowship position in Christ Church College; Oxford. Kratz has studied literary history and theology of the Old Testament; Ancient Near Eastern prophecy; and Judaism in both the Persian and Hellenistic periods. He is the author of several scholarly books; including; The Composition of the Narrative Books of the Old Testament and Law and Religion in the Eastern Mediterranean: From Antiquity to Early Islam (with Anselm C. Hagedron). Most recently; with the assistance of Paul Michael Kurtz (translator); Historical and Biblical Israel: The History; Tradition; and Archives of Israel and Judah was made available for the first time in the English-speaking world.Historical and Biblical Israel is a tour de force into the life and literature of the people of Israel. Kartz has divided the book into three major sections: (1) The History of Israel and Judah; (2) The Biblical Tradition; and (3) Jewish Archives. Depending on the interest or needs of the reader; these sections can be read individually or together. The first section depends primarily on the broader; external scope of politics; culture; and religion for its reconstruction of the history of Israel and Judah (p. 6). Kratz helpfully seeks to divorce this initial investigation from the biblical narrative and focus attention on “the archeological . . . evidence and additional information that can be won from the biblical tradition by means of both critical analysis and historical analogy†(p. 2). This section is packed with careful scholarship and reflection; and the reader is guided from the origins of Israel to the Herodian Kingdom.The second section of the book focuses attention on the biblical tradition of the Hebrew Bible. This includes a helpful chapter on the scribal culture; scribes and scribe schools; as well as writing and writing sources in the pre-biblical period. Kratz seeks to present a focused investigation on the transformation of the pre-biblical material into biblical tradition and then outlines the literary history of such through the forthcoming centuries. Kratz work here is especially helpful; but will undoubtedly be met with opposition from some readers. The final section of the book provides somewhat of a blended examination of the preceding methods; as Kratz seeks to broaden his investigation of historical and biblical Israel into the Jewish archives—namely the Elephantine; Al-Yahudu; Qumran; Gerizim; Jerusalem; and Alexandrian archives. The book concludes with three appendices (Timeline; List of Kings and High Priests; and Glossary); a lengthy bibliography; and source index that will be useful for future consultation.Historical and Biblical Israel is a wealth of informed scholarly reflection. I found myself in disagreement with the presuppositions presented in this volume more than once; but the sheer usefulness of the approach taken therein outweighed such contention. Still; I think it may have the approach taken—the divorced examination of historical and biblical Israel—that made these presuppositions more evident. This is; of course; to the reader’s advantage; and I believe that the keen reader will likewise walk away with such observations. Nevertheless; even those entering into the conversation in disagreement with Kratz will learn much. Kratz is concise and direct in his presentation; and the reader will appreciate the scope of the investigation despite the apparent lack in page count. If you are looking for a book that will stimulate your present understanding (or misunderstanding) of the people of Israel; then Historical and Biblical Israel: The History; Tradition; and Archives of Israel and Judah by Reinhard G. Kratz would be a volume well worth the investment.I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR; Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
