Over the Top

Over the Top, published in 1917 by Arthur Guy Empey, recounts his firsthand experiences as an American soldier in the British Army during World War I. Inspired by the sinking of the Lusitania, Empey details the brutal realities of trench warfare, including his wounding and recovery. The book was a significant success, contributing to recruitment efforts as the United States entered the war. It also features 'Tommy's Dictionary of the Trenches,' which humorously explains British military slang.