The war that ended peace - Margaret MacMillan

WINNER of the International Affairs Book of the Year at the Political Book Awards 2014Longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2013The
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 Europe's dominance of the world. It
was a war which could have been avoided up to the last moment-so why did
it happen?Beginning in the early nineteenth century, and ending
with the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, award-winning
historian 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. This masterful exploration of how Europe chose its path
towards war will change and enrich how we see this defining moment in
our history.