The Great Illusion - A Study of Military Power and National Advantage

In this review of The Great Illusion, the reviewer finds a concise, historically significant analysis best suited to readers interested in early 20th century thought on war and policy. Originally published in 1912, the book offers a primary-text perspective that remains useful for students of political science and intellectual history; our review highlights that its chief value is as a contemporary reflection of prewar assumptions rather than a modern strategic manual.

Key Features

• Original 1912 text: The book reproduces the author's language and ideas, giving readers direct access to a formative argument about the relation of military power to national advantage.
• Historical context: As an early 20th century work, it illuminates the assumptions and debates that shaped policy discussions before the First World War.
• Accessible modern edition: This republished volume is produced as an affordable, high quality edition that preserves original text and artwork for study or reference.
• English language: The edition is presented in English, making it straightforward for anglophone readers and scholars to engage with the material.
• Relevance for social sciences: The book is indexed to political science and broader social sciences discussions, useful for classroom reading or independent research.

Who It's For

The Great Illusion is well suited to students, historians, and researchers who want to read an influential primary source from 1912 on war, security, and national advantage. It is particularly valuable for courses or reading lists in history & theory, political science, and the study of diplomatic thought.

Readers seeking up-to-date strategic guidance, contemporary military theory, or modern empirical analysis should look elsewhere, because the book is a historical document reflecting the period's ideas rather than current doctrine.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Faithful reproduction of the original 1912 text preserves the author's voice for historical study.
• Affordable modern edition makes a scarce early work accessible to students and libraries.
• Useful as a primary source for courses in politics & government and intellectual history.

Cons

• As a period work, it does not reflect modern developments in military theory or contemporary examples.

Specifications

Title	The Great Illusion - A Study of the Relation of Military Power to National Advantage
Author	Norman Angel
Original Publication Year	1912
Language	English
Category	Politics & Social Sciences; Political Science; History & Theory
Edition	Republished modern edition preserving original text and artwork

Our Verdict

The Great Illusion is a worthwhile purchase for those studying early 20th century political thought or building a reference library of influential works; its faithful reproduction and affordable modern edition make it good value as a historical resource. Readers seeking contemporary analysis should supplement it with modern texts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the original 1912 text?
Yes, the republished edition uses the original text and artwork from the 1912 publication.

Who should read this book?
Students and scholars of political science, diplomatic history, and intellectual history will find the book most useful.

Does it include modern commentary?
No, this edition focuses on reproducing the original work rather than adding extensive modern analysis.