To the Last Man (Jeff Shaara, 2004)

Shaara has written several Civil War books (as did his father). I believe this was his first World War I book. I've been working my way through a number of WWI books. The war was basically unbelievable, and the aftermath - in terms of map-drawing, political structures, etc. - is with us still. Shaara computes the numbers at 5,000 young men dead per day through the entire war - how did anyone cope with this?

In some ways it felt like Shaara was imitating "All Quiet on the Western Front" (per immediately below). I liked the book and it was well worth the time even if longish (600+ pages). He tells the story through the eyes of a group of characters - ground infantry, Lafayette Escadrille, Manfred von Richtofen, Pershing, Patton, Ludendorff, etc. I think he tried to pick up too many vantage points, and I preferred the way David Robbins uses this technique in his WWII novels. But it was helpful that he focused on just the last year+ of the war. I'm glad I read this. A fine diversion when on the stairmaster.