It’s a fact more than 420, 000 British soldiers perished at the Battle of the Somme. It’s also a fact the British entered the First World War with absolutely no inkling of how much they would lose. Fact: Niall Ferguson writes a riveting analysis of Britain’s controversial role in the Great War in The Pity of War. The Oxford-based historian contends Britain miscalculated or indeed neglected to properly determine Germany’s intentions before they plunged headlong into the most destructive conflict in the continent’s history. To make matters worse, according to Ferguson, the British quickly ran out of steam in the midst of war; therefore, having to swallow their pride and ask for American intervention. | The Pity of War by Niall Ferguson, Paperback | Indigo Chapters