Luigi Albertini, Harold Macmillan, from Stefan Jovanovich
Today is the anniversary of their deaths, Albertini in 1941 and Macmillan in 1986.
Between them they explain everything that needs to be known about The Great War. Albertini's work–the Origins of the War of 1914– is the best single work of history I have ever read. Macmillan's experience as a young man says it all.
From the Telegraph: "In his year at Balliol, 28 students went to the Western Front. Only Macmillan and one other came back."