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Henri Mathias Berthelot: Soldier of France, Defender of Romania. By Glenn E. Torrey. Portland, Ore.: ISBS for the Center for Romanian Studies, 2000. ISBN 973-9432-15-8. Maps. Photographs. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Pp. 399. $39.95.
This is a fine book, a judgment worthy of elaboration. For one, the subject lies outside the scholarly mainstream on World War One. The protagonist, General Henri Berthelot, is not a household name, anywhere; the short-lived Romanian theatre of war between autumn 1916 and spring 1918 seldom attracts much attention; and-with one notable exception-the link between wartime Romania and the French army has remained cloaked in obscurity. Yet here we have an exceptionally handsome, well-illustrated volume on just such a topic.
There are other strengths. Clearly written, it offers enough detail to satisfy those expert...