영어로 읽는 고전 _ 어빈 S. 콥의 전쟁의 영향
"Speaking of Prussians"는 1917년에 출간된 어빈 S. 콥의 전쟁 관련 에세이입니다. 이 책은 제1차 세계대전 중 종군기자로서 저자가 직접 관찰한 프러시아 군대와 독일의 전쟁 수행 방식에 대한 기록을 담고 있습니다.
작품은 당시 프러시아의 군국주의와 전쟁 문화를 심도 있게 분석합니다. 콥은 프러시아 군대의 조직 체계, 군사 전략, 그리고 그들의 사고방식을 상세히 관찰하고 기록합니다.
책의 특징은 적국인 독일과 프러시아를 다루면서도, 객관적인 시각을 유지하려 노력했다는 점입니다. 저자는 전쟁 선전물이 아닌, 저널리스트로서의 관찰과 분석을 통해 당시의 상황을 전달하고자 했습니다.
특히 이 작품은 제1차 세계대전 시기 독일의 군사 문화와 사회상을 이해할 수 있는 중요한 역사적 자료로서의 가치를 지니고 있습니다. 콥은 전선에서 직접 목격한 사건들과 경험을 바탕으로 전쟁의 실상을 생생하게 전달합니다.
"Speaking of Prussians"는 전쟁 시기의 중요한 역사적 기록이자, 군국주의와 전쟁의 본질을 탐구한 의미 있는 작품으로 평가받고 있습니다.

Reading Classics in English _ Speaking of Prussians by Irvin S. Cobb
"Speaking of Prussians" is an essay on war by Irvin S. Cobb, published in 1917. This book contains records of the Prussian army and German warfare that the author observed directly as a war correspondent during World War I.
The work deeply analyzes Prussian militarism and war culture at the time. Cobb observes and records in detail the Prussian army's organizational structure, military strategy, and their way of thinking.
The characteristic of the book is that it tries to maintain an objective perspective while dealing with the enemy countries of Germany and Prussia. The author tried to convey the situation at the time through his observations and analysis as a journalist, not through war propaganda.
In particular, this work has value as an important historical source for understanding the military culture and social aspects of Germany during World War I. Cobb vividly conveys the reality of the war based on the events and experiences he personally witnessed on the front lines. "Speaking of Prussians" is considered an important historical record of the war years and a meaningful work that explores the nature of militarism and war.

Summary
"Speaking of Prussians--" by Irvin S. Cobb is a nonfiction account written during the early 20th century, specifically amidst the backdrop of World War I. This book serves as a personal narrative and commentary on the impact of the war, particularly focusing on the Prussian military ideology and its effects on both the battlefield and civilian populations in invaded countries like Belgium and France. Cobb, an American newspaper journalist, reflects on his firsthand experiences observing the war’s brutality and the mindset of the German forces. In "Speaking of Prussians--," Cobb combines his vivid eyewitness accounts with reflections on the nature of war and martial governance. He recounts the devastation witnessed in Belgian towns, the plight of refugees, and the stark contrast between German soldiers’ discipline and the horrors inflicted on civilians. He conveys his deep disdain for war while acknowledging its necessity for defending freedom and national integrity. The narrative argues that the Prussian militaristic approach, characterized by a mechanized and ruthless efficiency, appears dangerously unyielding and detached from the fundamental rights of humanity. Through poignant anecdotes and social commentary, Cobb implores American readers to recognize the stakes of militarism and the defense of democratic values against autocratic aggression.

Contents
CHAPTER I. I believe it to be my patriotic duty
CHAPTER II. A few days before war was declared
CHAPTER III. Every right-thinking man, I take it
CHAPTER IV. When I think back on those first stages
CHAPTER V. The point I am trying to make is this
CHAPTER VI. Doubtlessly you read the published extracts
CHAPTER VII. In peace the mental docility of the German
CHAPTER VIII. Having spread the gospel of force for so long
CHAPTER IX. I am coming now to what seems to me
CHAPTER X. In this same connection it may not be amiss
CHAPTER XI. But fifty or a hundred miles away on German soil
CHAPTER XII. Even more illuminating were his views
CHAPTER XIII. It never seemed to occur to him
CHAPTER XIV. A prophet is nearly always a bore
CHAPTER XV. Had Doctor Bang set forth as his own views
CHAPTER XVI. So far as I can tell