by J. Breckinridge, edited by Ernest H. Latham, Jr.
Las Vegas: Center for Romanian Studies, Histria Books / Philadelphia: Casemate, 2018. Pp. 310.
Illus., append., notes, biblio., index. . $49.99 . ISBN: 1592110150
A Volunteer Physician in Romania
A man of prosperous Southern roots, Dr. John Breckinridge Bayne (1880-1964) spent most of the period from December of 1916 through the summer of 1919 as a volunteer physician in Romania. Inadequately prepared, the country had plunged into the Great War enticed by promises of support from the Entente powers, which never came, and the war turned out badly. Upon his return to the U.S., Bayne left this memoir.
Dr. Latham, the editor of Athene Palace, is a former foreign service officer and historian with considerable experience in Romania, and his edition of Dr. Bayne’s memoir is an informative account of the man' experiences during the war. A perceptive observer, Bayne gives us some insightful critiques of contemporary events, as well as a look at the practice of medicine under the most primitive conditions, the experience of German occupation, and more.
While a map would have been useful, Bugs And Bullets is a good read for anyone interested in the Great War in the east.
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Note: Bugs And Bullets is also available in paperback.
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