Paths of Glory: Impressions of War Written at and Near the Front

"Paths of Glory: Impressions of War Written at and Near the Front" by Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury) Cobb is a gripping non-fiction narrative that plunges into the heart of World War I, shortly after it began in 1914. It's a powerful collection of the author's firsthand experiences and intense observations from his time close to the battlefields in Belgium, France, and Germany. The book paints a stark picture of the war's devastating impact, contrasting the peace of the recent past with the sudden destruction and disorder it brought. The opening scene throws readers into Montignies St. Christophe, a Belgian village, seen through Cobb's observant eyes, showing how a recent battle transformed it from ordinary to a haunting scene of ruin. The narrative shows destroyed homes, wounded soldiers, and the unsettling quiet of villagers forced from their homes, all experienced as Cobb travels with other Americans, capturing the raw truth of war and highlighting its devastating effects on the land and its people, thereby revealing the major emotional costs the conflict placed on everyone in its path