The War that Ended Peace: How Europe abandoned peace for the First World War
The First World War followed a period of sustained peace in Europe during which people talked with confidence of prosperity, progress and hope. But in 1914, Europe walked into a catastrophic conflict which killed millions of its men, bled its economies dry, shook empires and societies to pieces, and fatally undermined Europes dominance of the world. Why did it happen? Beginning in the early nineteenth century, and ending with the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, Margaret MacMillan uncovers the huge political and technological changes, national decisions and - just as important - the small moments of human muddle and weakness that led Europe from peace to disaster.
Reviews
'Splendidly well written - fluent, engaging, well-paced and, despite the grim subject, often entertaining' New Statesman
'She writes prose like an Audi - purring smoothly along the diplomatic highway, accelerating effortlessly as she goes the distance. This is a ground-breaking book, decisively shifting the debate away from the hoary old question of Germany's war guilt. MacMillan's history is magisterial - dense, balanced and humane. The story of Europe's diplomatic meltdown has never been better told' Spectator
'The Canadian historian laces The War That Ended Peace with deft character sketches and uses sources incisively...MacMillan escorts the reader skilfully through the military, diplomatic and political crises that framed the road to war from 1870 to 1914' FT
'Excellent, elegantly written book...as fine an assessment of the reason peace failed as any yet written'
Saul David
'Margaret MacMillan, the author of Peacemakers , which won numerous prizes, is that wonderful combination - an academic and scholar who writes well, with a marvellous clarity of thought. Her pen portraits of the chief players are both enjoyable and illuminating. Among the cascade of books arriving for the anniversary, this work truly stands out'
Antony Beevor
'MacMillan is a perceptive guide to the thought processes of the key players' --Simon Griffith
'She writes prose like an Audi - purring smoothly along the diplomatic highway, accelerating effortlessly as she goes the distance. This is a ground-breaking book, decisively shifting the debate away from the hoary old question of Germany's war guilt. MacMillan's history is magisterial - dense, balanced and humane. The story of Europe's diplomatic meltdown has never been better told' Spectator
'The Canadian historian laces The War That Ended Peace with deft character sketches and uses sources incisively...MacMillan escorts the reader skilfully through the military, diplomatic and political crises that framed the road to war from 1870 to 1914' FT
'Excellent, elegantly written book...as fine an assessment of the reason peace failed as any yet written'
Saul David
'Margaret MacMillan, the author of Peacemakers , which won numerous prizes, is that wonderful combination - an academic and scholar who writes well, with a marvellous clarity of thought. Her pen portraits of the chief players are both enjoyable and illuminating. Among the cascade of books arriving for the anniversary, this work truly stands out'
Antony Beevor
'MacMillan is a perceptive guide to the thought processes of the key players' --Simon Griffith
This book is available to buy from Amazon.co.uk : http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-that-Ended-Peace-abandoned/dp/184668272X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383041701&sr=1-1
