After reading dozens of First World War histories over the years, I've finally found one that puts things into context and give me a better understanding of the big-picture. Philip Stevens has an eye for the telling detail, often ignoring the more well-known anecdotes for others that make his point more tellingly.

This isn't an in-depth history - it couldn't be in only 140 pages (plus 75 pages of interesting and varied appendices) - but it tells a coherent story.