For the British Empire and its allies of the Great War, 1917 was a year marked by one crisis after another. There was also social and political upheaval on the home front, including labour unrest and opposition to conscription in the dominions. But here and there glimmers of light pierced the gloom. The armies of the empire began to solve the puzzle of trench warfare. The dominions asserted themselves more in the councils of imperial power. And the United States finally entered the war.

Turning Point 1917 examines the British imperial war effort during the most pivotal and dynamic twelve months of the Great War. Written by internationally recognized historians, its chapters explore military, diplomatic, and domestic aspects of how the empire prosecuted the war. Their rich, nuanced analysis transcends narrow, national viewpoints of the conflict to view the British Empire as a coalition rather than individual states engaged in their own distinctive struggles. In drawing attention to the developments that made 1917 a turning point, this book provides a unique perspective of the war.

Turning Point 1917 combines classic military history with studies of social factors and cultural dimensions to look at how events in 1917 marked not only a turning point in the Great War but also in the relationships between Britain and the dominions. This is a very important volume. -- Jonathan F.W. Vance, Distinguished University Professor and J.B. Smallman Chair, Department of History, Western University Looking at a disparate variety of regions, crises, and themes in 1917, this fascinating volume examines how seemingly disconnected events overlapped to change the course of the war for Britain and its allies. Written by leading international experts of diplomatic, military, and naval history, Turning Point 1917 sets the benchmark for future comparative analyses. -- Kent Fedorowich, Reader in British Imperial History, University of the West of England, Bristol

About the Author

Douglas E. Delaney holds the Canada Research Chair in War Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada. He is the author of The Soldiers' General: Bert Hoffmeister at War (2005), which won the 2007 C.P. Stacey Prize for Canadian Military History, and Corps Commanders: Five British and Canadian Generals at War, 1939-45 (2011). He is also co-editor (with Serge Marc Durflinger) of Capturing Hill 70: Canada's Forgotten Battle of the First World War (2016).

Nikolas Gardner holds the Class of 1965 Chair in Leadership at the Royal Military College of Canada. He is the author of Trial by Fire: Command and the British Expeditionary Force in 1914 (2003) and The Siege of Kut-al-Amara: At War in Mesopotamia, 1915-1916 (2014).

Reviews
All of the writings [in Turning Point 1917] are well chosen, and they underscore the fact that there is much more to properly understanding World War I than just focusing on the Western Front ... [F]or aficionados of the Great War, Turning Point 1917 is a must-read. -- Roger D. Cunningham * Army History *



Book Information
ISBN 9780774833998
Author Douglas E. Delaney
Format Hardback
Page Count 260
Imprint University of British Columbia Press
Publisher University of British Columbia Press
Weight(grams) 520g