%% This is a multi-book review: SEE also the title Causes and Consequences of the Great Depression. %% Gr. 710. These two opening volumes (of a projected 10) combine methodical analyses of twentieth-century historical landmarks with generous helpings of contemporary illustrations and sound-bite quotations.Ross begins his examination of World War I's causes with the Congress of Vienna, after Napoleon's defeat, then in increasing detail describes how Europe lurched and slithered into a war that was, as modern consensus has it, provoked by Germany but widely considered inevitable at the time. He quickly passes over the war's events to its aftermath, surveying not only the immediate human and economic costs but also scientific advances, the birth of the Jazz Age, and the long-term effects of the harsh Treaty of Versailles and its satellite agreements.He looks at another legacy of the war in the other book: an unsettled, inherently unstable, poorly understood world economy that crashed definitively after a decade of oscillations. Exploring the combination of shortsightedness and limited understanding of larger economic principles that led to the crisis, he describes the general desperation it caused, then looks at direct and indirect consequences, from World War II to the growth of true international cooperation. The illustrations, heavy on political cartoons but including photos, posters, and statistical charts as well, are reproduced in color whenever possible and, like the frequent marginal quotations from historians, documents, and world leaders, will give young researchers a sense of contemporary and later reactions to events.Back matter in each book includes a glossary, time line, one-page (but up to date) book list, and brief index. Despite the absence of source notes and a shortage of documentary material, these assignment titles are meaty enough to enhance any school library's modern-history section. (Reviewed August 1998)

Illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs and reproductions, the book traces the historical background that led to World War I and discusses the global changes that were wrought by it. The political, social, and economic legacies of the war are examined in the flatly written volume. A time line is included. Bib., glos., ind.

Gr 6-10--These heavily illustrated titles provide concise examinations of the causes and lasting results of two of the most cataclysmic events of the 20th century. The attractive, well-organized layouts, crisp prose, and informative, captioned archival illustrations, many in full color, contribute to their appeal. In Great Depression, Ross examines the causes of the worldwide economic depression in the 1930s, focusing on the flawed international economic system and the damaged national economies that emerged after World War I. He explains the New York Stock Exchange crash in 1929 and the consequences of the depression, including greater international economic, political, and military cooperation; social democracy; and the emergence of the welfare state. In World War I, the author discusses the sources of tension in Europe as well as events that triggered the war. Some of the consequences discussed are the drawing of a new map of Europe, the rise of new republics, and a flawed peace treaty that helped sow the seeds of a future war. While neither book presents new information, both include seldom-seen illustrations and should appeal to general readers as well as report writers. The Great Depression serves as a companion to Anne Schraff's The Great Depression and the New Deal (Watts, 1990; o.p.), while World War I complements Zachary Kent's World War I (Enslow, 1994).--David A. Lindsey, Lakewood High and Middle School Libraries, WA