Author: John C. G. Röhl
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521497527
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 1018
Book Description
John C. G. Röhl's acclaimed life of Kaiser Wilhelm II, from his birth in 1859 to his accession to the throne in 1888.
Young Wilhelm
Author: John C. G. Röhl
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521497527
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 1018
Book Description
John C. G. Röhl's acclaimed life of Kaiser Wilhelm II, from his birth in 1859 to his accession to the throne in 1888.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521497527
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 1018
Book Description
John C. G. Röhl's acclaimed life of Kaiser Wilhelm II, from his birth in 1859 to his accession to the throne in 1888.
The Kaiser's Memoirs
Author: German Emperor William II
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
ISBN: 1465590048
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
Prince Bismarck's greatness as a statesman and his imperishable services to Prussia and Germany are historical facts of such tremendous significance that there is doubtless no man in existence, whatever his party affiliations, who would dare to place them in question. For this very reason alone it is stupid to accuse me of not having recognized the greatness of Prince Bismarck. The opposite is the truth. I revered and idolized him. Nor could it be otherwise. It should be borne in mind with what generation I grew up—the generation of the devotees of Bismarck. He was the creator of the German Empire, the paladin of my grandfather, and all of us considered him the greatest statesman of his day and were proud that he was a German. Bismarck was the idol in my temple, whom I worshiped. But monarchs also are human beings of flesh and blood, hence they, too, are exposed to the influences emanating from the conduct of others; therefore, looking at the matter from a human point of view, one will understand how Prince Bismarck, by his fight against me, himself destroyed, with heavy blows, the idol of which I have spoken. But my reverence for Bismarck, the great statesman, remained unaltered. While I was still Prince of Prussia I often thought to myself: "I hope that the great Chancellor will live for many years yet, since I should be safe if I could govern with him." But my reverence for the great statesman was not such as to make me take upon my own shoulders, when I became Emperor, political plans or actions of the Prince which I considered mistakes. Even the Congress of Berlin in 1878 was, to my way of thinking, a mistake, likewise the "Kulturkampf." Moreover, the constitution of the Empire was drawn up so as to fit in with Bismarck's extraordinary preponderance as a statesman; the big cuirassier boots did not fit every man. Then came the labor-protective legislation. I most deeply deplored the dispute which grew out of this, but, at that time, it was necessary for me to take the road to compromise, which has generally been my road both on domestic and foreign politics. For this reason I could not wage the open warfare against the Social Democrats which the Prince desired. Nevertheless, this quarrel about political measures cannot lessen my admiration for the greatness of Bismarck as a statesman; he remains the creator of the German Empire, and surely no one man need have done more for his country than that. Owing to the fact that the great matter of unifying the Empire was always before my eyes, I did not allow myself to be influenced by the agitations which were the commonplaces of those days. In like manner, the fact that Bismarck was called the majordomo of the Hohenzollerns could not shake my trust in the Prince, although he, perhaps, had thoughts of a political tradition for his family. As evidence of this, he felt unhappy, for instance, that his son Bill felt no interest in politics and wished to pass on his power to Herbert.
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
ISBN: 1465590048
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
Prince Bismarck's greatness as a statesman and his imperishable services to Prussia and Germany are historical facts of such tremendous significance that there is doubtless no man in existence, whatever his party affiliations, who would dare to place them in question. For this very reason alone it is stupid to accuse me of not having recognized the greatness of Prince Bismarck. The opposite is the truth. I revered and idolized him. Nor could it be otherwise. It should be borne in mind with what generation I grew up—the generation of the devotees of Bismarck. He was the creator of the German Empire, the paladin of my grandfather, and all of us considered him the greatest statesman of his day and were proud that he was a German. Bismarck was the idol in my temple, whom I worshiped. But monarchs also are human beings of flesh and blood, hence they, too, are exposed to the influences emanating from the conduct of others; therefore, looking at the matter from a human point of view, one will understand how Prince Bismarck, by his fight against me, himself destroyed, with heavy blows, the idol of which I have spoken. But my reverence for Bismarck, the great statesman, remained unaltered. While I was still Prince of Prussia I often thought to myself: "I hope that the great Chancellor will live for many years yet, since I should be safe if I could govern with him." But my reverence for the great statesman was not such as to make me take upon my own shoulders, when I became Emperor, political plans or actions of the Prince which I considered mistakes. Even the Congress of Berlin in 1878 was, to my way of thinking, a mistake, likewise the "Kulturkampf." Moreover, the constitution of the Empire was drawn up so as to fit in with Bismarck's extraordinary preponderance as a statesman; the big cuirassier boots did not fit every man. Then came the labor-protective legislation. I most deeply deplored the dispute which grew out of this, but, at that time, it was necessary for me to take the road to compromise, which has generally been my road both on domestic and foreign politics. For this reason I could not wage the open warfare against the Social Democrats which the Prince desired. Nevertheless, this quarrel about political measures cannot lessen my admiration for the greatness of Bismarck as a statesman; he remains the creator of the German Empire, and surely no one man need have done more for his country than that. Owing to the fact that the great matter of unifying the Empire was always before my eyes, I did not allow myself to be influenced by the agitations which were the commonplaces of those days. In like manner, the fact that Bismarck was called the majordomo of the Hohenzollerns could not shake my trust in the Prince, although he, perhaps, had thoughts of a political tradition for his family. As evidence of this, he felt unhappy, for instance, that his son Bill felt no interest in politics and wished to pass on his power to Herbert.
Mint Julep: The Reunion
Author: Nita Clarke
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 615
Book Description
Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of the LaPierre-Menard family's saga in Mint Julep: The Reunion, As Told to Gracie Buckhalter. Journey from the rustic bayous of Louisiana to the heart of New Orleans, tracing a narrative that leaps from humble shacks to high-society soirees, from rags to riches, and from quiet plantations to the vivacious rhythm of Zydeco music. Your charismatic narrator, Alexandra LaPierre-Menard, unfolds the family's adventurous reunion to the keen pen of Gracie Buckhalter with a Southern charm that's as enticing as a sweet summer breeze. As the tale unwinds, you'll dance to the beat of the South, if only momentarily, amidst laughter, camaraderie, and a sprinkle of good ol' mischief. Meet the tale-weavers of the LaPierre-Menard lineage as they reminisce about the indomitable Dolice Marie and Jean Pierre LaPierre, the tender matriarch Mama Mozelle, the infamous Madam Frou-Frous, the mystical allure of voodoo priestess MamaDel, and a life-altering encounter with a tall, red-headed Canadian named Menard./span
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 615
Book Description
Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of the LaPierre-Menard family's saga in Mint Julep: The Reunion, As Told to Gracie Buckhalter. Journey from the rustic bayous of Louisiana to the heart of New Orleans, tracing a narrative that leaps from humble shacks to high-society soirees, from rags to riches, and from quiet plantations to the vivacious rhythm of Zydeco music. Your charismatic narrator, Alexandra LaPierre-Menard, unfolds the family's adventurous reunion to the keen pen of Gracie Buckhalter with a Southern charm that's as enticing as a sweet summer breeze. As the tale unwinds, you'll dance to the beat of the South, if only momentarily, amidst laughter, camaraderie, and a sprinkle of good ol' mischief. Meet the tale-weavers of the LaPierre-Menard lineage as they reminisce about the indomitable Dolice Marie and Jean Pierre LaPierre, the tender matriarch Mama Mozelle, the infamous Madam Frou-Frous, the mystical allure of voodoo priestess MamaDel, and a life-altering encounter with a tall, red-headed Canadian named Menard./span
Modern Genocide [4 volumes]
Author: Paul R. Bartrop
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1610693647
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2433
Book Description
This massive, four-volume work provides students with a close examination of 10 modern genocides enhanced by documents and introductions that provide additional historical and contemporary context for learning about and understanding these tragic events. Modern Genocide: The Definitive Resource and Document Collection spans nearly 1,700 pages presented in four volumes and includes more than 120 primary source documents, making it ideal for high school and beginning college students studying modern genocide as part of a larger world history curriculum. The coverage for each modern genocide, from Herero to Darfur, begins with an introductory essay that helps students conceptualize the conflict within an international context and enables them to better understand the complex role genocide has played in the modern world. There are hundreds of entries on atrocities, organizations, individuals, and other aspects of genocide, each written to serve as a springboard to meaningful discussion and further research. The coverage of each genocide includes an introductory overview, an explanation of the causes, consequences, perpetrators, victims, and bystanders; the international reaction; a timeline of events; an Analyze section that poses tough questions for readers to consider and provides scholarly, pro-and-con responses to these historical conundrums; and reference entries. This integrated examination of genocides occurring in the modern era not only presents an unprecedented research tool on the subject but also challenges the readers to go back and examine other events historically and, consequently, consider important questions about human society in the present and the future.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1610693647
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2433
Book Description
This massive, four-volume work provides students with a close examination of 10 modern genocides enhanced by documents and introductions that provide additional historical and contemporary context for learning about and understanding these tragic events. Modern Genocide: The Definitive Resource and Document Collection spans nearly 1,700 pages presented in four volumes and includes more than 120 primary source documents, making it ideal for high school and beginning college students studying modern genocide as part of a larger world history curriculum. The coverage for each modern genocide, from Herero to Darfur, begins with an introductory essay that helps students conceptualize the conflict within an international context and enables them to better understand the complex role genocide has played in the modern world. There are hundreds of entries on atrocities, organizations, individuals, and other aspects of genocide, each written to serve as a springboard to meaningful discussion and further research. The coverage of each genocide includes an introductory overview, an explanation of the causes, consequences, perpetrators, victims, and bystanders; the international reaction; a timeline of events; an Analyze section that poses tough questions for readers to consider and provides scholarly, pro-and-con responses to these historical conundrums; and reference entries. This integrated examination of genocides occurring in the modern era not only presents an unprecedented research tool on the subject but also challenges the readers to go back and examine other events historically and, consequently, consider important questions about human society in the present and the future.
Germany and Austria since 1814
Author: Mark Allinson
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1444186523
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
Germany and Austria since 1814 presents an accessible overview of the distinctive historical experiences undergone by both Germany and Austria during this period. Beginning in 1814 with the Congress of Vienna and ending two centuries later with the consequences and ongoing challenges of German and European unification, this book focuses on political history and traces the development of liberal parliamentary democracy in Germany and Austria through to the modern Federal Republic of Germany and Second Austrian Republic, contextualising the Nazi period in both countries. Particular emphasis has been placed on exploring major developments, their causes, and the relationships between them. Fully revised, this new edition has been expanded to include a new final chapter outlining developments in both Germany and Austria from 1990 to the current day, including recent elections, as well as modifications and updates to other earlier chapters. Features include: Nine chapters, each analysing a distinct historical period and providing a timeline of the key events for quick reference and orientation Overviews of the main developments in European and World history at the beginning of each chapter, providing international context crucial to a broader understanding of historical events Authentic extracts from contemporary German political texts in the original language Topics for discussion provided in every chapter A guide to further reading and key internet resources for further research A combined glossary of German terms. Germany and Austria since 1814 provides the essential historical context necessary for an understanding of these pivotal European countries today. It will be invaluable for undergraduate students taking courses in German, History and Area Studies.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1444186523
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
Germany and Austria since 1814 presents an accessible overview of the distinctive historical experiences undergone by both Germany and Austria during this period. Beginning in 1814 with the Congress of Vienna and ending two centuries later with the consequences and ongoing challenges of German and European unification, this book focuses on political history and traces the development of liberal parliamentary democracy in Germany and Austria through to the modern Federal Republic of Germany and Second Austrian Republic, contextualising the Nazi period in both countries. Particular emphasis has been placed on exploring major developments, their causes, and the relationships between them. Fully revised, this new edition has been expanded to include a new final chapter outlining developments in both Germany and Austria from 1990 to the current day, including recent elections, as well as modifications and updates to other earlier chapters. Features include: Nine chapters, each analysing a distinct historical period and providing a timeline of the key events for quick reference and orientation Overviews of the main developments in European and World history at the beginning of each chapter, providing international context crucial to a broader understanding of historical events Authentic extracts from contemporary German political texts in the original language Topics for discussion provided in every chapter A guide to further reading and key internet resources for further research A combined glossary of German terms. Germany and Austria since 1814 provides the essential historical context necessary for an understanding of these pivotal European countries today. It will be invaluable for undergraduate students taking courses in German, History and Area Studies.
The Kaiser's Confidante
Author: Richard Jay Hutto
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476628084
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229
Book Description
New York City native Mary Esther Lee (1837-1914) first married in 1864 the Prince von Noer, brother of the Queen of Denmark, and was created a princess in her own right after his death. An active philanthropist to Protestant causes, she then married Count Alfred von Waldersee whose close ties to the Prussian court made her an intimate friend of Kaiser Wilhelm II and a mentor and valued friend to his young wife. Although she preferred to remain in the background, Mary's influence caused intense jealousy by those at court who resented her friendship with the kaiser and kaiserin. This biography chronicles the remarkable life of an American woman whose wealth and influence enabled her to rise to power in the Prussian royal court.
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476628084
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229
Book Description
New York City native Mary Esther Lee (1837-1914) first married in 1864 the Prince von Noer, brother of the Queen of Denmark, and was created a princess in her own right after his death. An active philanthropist to Protestant causes, she then married Count Alfred von Waldersee whose close ties to the Prussian court made her an intimate friend of Kaiser Wilhelm II and a mentor and valued friend to his young wife. Although she preferred to remain in the background, Mary's influence caused intense jealousy by those at court who resented her friendship with the kaiser and kaiserin. This biography chronicles the remarkable life of an American woman whose wealth and influence enabled her to rise to power in the Prussian royal court.
Wilhelm's War
Author: Charles Stammer
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0595336094
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 271
Book Description
Wilhelm's War is a World War II novel based on the experiences of its author, who, in December, 1944, fought in the so-called "Battle of the Bulge." Corporal Jimmy Wilhelm, a boy of nineteen and proud of his German descent, hopes, in his nerdy, peace-loving way, to avoid injuring, least of all killing, a cousin or an uncle in the war. Shooting a fleeing German prisoner, he solves that dilemma on his first day at the front. Combat and capture come just a few days later, followed by frozen feet, a starving belly and a boxcar ride across Germany to Stalag IIIB. Later, when the Russians approach the camp, he takes a week-long forced march across Germany to Stalag IIIA near Berlin. Besides kicking up a "Bouncing Betty" mine that kills a buddy, his sergeant is lost when he helps Wilhelm off a barbwire fence during the bombing of Limburg. Wilhelm wonders if there is a God and why, if he is watching, he allows such wholesale slaughter. Wilhelm's War is also a coming-of-age novel. It tells the story of a boy's transformation into a mature man and soldier who is capable of killing an enemy with his bare hands.
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0595336094
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 271
Book Description
Wilhelm's War is a World War II novel based on the experiences of its author, who, in December, 1944, fought in the so-called "Battle of the Bulge." Corporal Jimmy Wilhelm, a boy of nineteen and proud of his German descent, hopes, in his nerdy, peace-loving way, to avoid injuring, least of all killing, a cousin or an uncle in the war. Shooting a fleeing German prisoner, he solves that dilemma on his first day at the front. Combat and capture come just a few days later, followed by frozen feet, a starving belly and a boxcar ride across Germany to Stalag IIIB. Later, when the Russians approach the camp, he takes a week-long forced march across Germany to Stalag IIIA near Berlin. Besides kicking up a "Bouncing Betty" mine that kills a buddy, his sergeant is lost when he helps Wilhelm off a barbwire fence during the bombing of Limburg. Wilhelm wonders if there is a God and why, if he is watching, he allows such wholesale slaughter. Wilhelm's War is also a coming-of-age novel. It tells the story of a boy's transformation into a mature man and soldier who is capable of killing an enemy with his bare hands.
Children of the House of Cleves
Author: Heather R. Darsie
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
ISBN: 1445699435
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 480
Book Description
The first book to look at the lives of Anna of Cleves’ siblings, particularly her powerful brother Wilhelm V and her elder sister Sybylla, and their interactions with the Holy Roman Empire, England, and France, which had a significant impact on the Reformation.
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
ISBN: 1445699435
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 480
Book Description
The first book to look at the lives of Anna of Cleves’ siblings, particularly her powerful brother Wilhelm V and her elder sister Sybylla, and their interactions with the Holy Roman Empire, England, and France, which had a significant impact on the Reformation.
Worlds Elsewhere
Author: Andrew Dickson
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0805097341
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 514
Book Description
"There are 83 copies of the First Folio in a vault beneath Capitol Hill, the world's largest collection. Well over 150 Indian movies are based on Shakespeare's plays-more than in any other nation. If current trends continue, there will soon be more high-school students reading The Merchant of Venice in Mandarin Chinese than in early-modern English. Why did this happen-and how? Ranging ambitiously across four continents and 400 years, Worlds Elsewhere is an eye-opening account of how Shakespeare went global. Seizing inspiration from the playwright's own fascination with travel, foreignness and distant worlds, Dickson takes us on an extraordinary journey-from Hamlet performed by English actors tramping through Poland in the early 1600s to twenty-first century Shanghai, where Shashibiya survived Mao's Cultural Revolution to become an honored Chinese author. En route we visit Nazi Germany, where Shakespeare became an unlikely favorite, and delve into the history of Bollywood, where Shakespearian stories helped give birth to Indian cinema. In Johannesburg, we discover how Shakespeare was enlisted into the fight to end apartheid. In California, we encounter him as the most popular playwright of the American frontier. Both a cultural history and a literary travelogue, the first of its kind, Worlds Elsewhere explores how Shakespeare became the world's writer, and how his works have changed beyond all recognition during the journey"--
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0805097341
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 514
Book Description
"There are 83 copies of the First Folio in a vault beneath Capitol Hill, the world's largest collection. Well over 150 Indian movies are based on Shakespeare's plays-more than in any other nation. If current trends continue, there will soon be more high-school students reading The Merchant of Venice in Mandarin Chinese than in early-modern English. Why did this happen-and how? Ranging ambitiously across four continents and 400 years, Worlds Elsewhere is an eye-opening account of how Shakespeare went global. Seizing inspiration from the playwright's own fascination with travel, foreignness and distant worlds, Dickson takes us on an extraordinary journey-from Hamlet performed by English actors tramping through Poland in the early 1600s to twenty-first century Shanghai, where Shashibiya survived Mao's Cultural Revolution to become an honored Chinese author. En route we visit Nazi Germany, where Shakespeare became an unlikely favorite, and delve into the history of Bollywood, where Shakespearian stories helped give birth to Indian cinema. In Johannesburg, we discover how Shakespeare was enlisted into the fight to end apartheid. In California, we encounter him as the most popular playwright of the American frontier. Both a cultural history and a literary travelogue, the first of its kind, Worlds Elsewhere explores how Shakespeare became the world's writer, and how his works have changed beyond all recognition during the journey"--
The War That Ended Peace
Author: Margaret MacMillan
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0812994701
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 935
Book Description
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • The Economist • The Christian Science Monitor • Bloomberg Businessweek • The Globe and Mail From the bestselling and award-winning author of Paris 1919 comes a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, a fascinating portrait of Europe from 1900 up to the outbreak of World War I. The century since the end of the Napoleonic wars had been the most peaceful era Europe had known since the fall of the Roman Empire. In the first years of the twentieth century, Europe believed it was marching to a golden, happy, and prosperous future. But instead, complex personalities and rivalries, colonialism and ethnic nationalisms, and shifting alliances helped to bring about the failure of the long peace and the outbreak of a war that transformed Europe and the world. The War That Ended Peace brings vividly to life the military leaders, politicians, diplomats, bankers, and the extended, interrelated family of crowned heads across Europe who failed to stop the descent into war: in Germany, the mercurial Kaiser Wilhelm II and the chief of the German general staff, Von Moltke the Younger; in Austria-Hungary, Emperor Franz Joseph, a man who tried, through sheer hard work, to stave off the coming chaos in his empire; in Russia, Tsar Nicholas II and his wife; in Britain, King Edward VII, Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, and British admiral Jacky Fisher, the fierce advocate of naval reform who entered into the arms race with Germany that pushed the continent toward confrontation on land and sea. There are the would-be peacemakers as well, among them prophets of the horrors of future wars whose warnings went unheeded: Alfred Nobel, who donated his fortune to the cause of international understanding, and Bertha von Suttner, a writer and activist who was the first woman awarded Nobel’s new Peace Prize. Here too we meet the urbane and cosmopolitan Count Harry Kessler, who noticed many of the early signs that something was stirring in Europe; the young Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty and a rising figure in British politics; Madame Caillaux, who shot a man who might have been a force for peace; and more. With indelible portraits, MacMillan shows how the fateful decisions of a few powerful people changed the course of history. Taut, suspenseful, and impossible to put down, The War That Ended Peace is also a wise cautionary reminder of how wars happen in spite of the near-universal desire to keep the peace. Destined to become a classic in the tradition of Barbara Tuchman’s The Guns of August, The War That Ended Peace enriches our understanding of one of the defining periods and events of the twentieth century. Praise for The War That Ended Peace “Magnificent . . . The War That Ended Peace will certainly rank among the best books of the centennial crop.”—The Economist “Superb.”—The New York Times Book Review “Masterly . . . marvelous . . . Those looking to understand why World War I happened will have a hard time finding a better place to start.”—The Christian Science Monitor “The debate over the war’s origins has raged for years. Ms. MacMillan’s explanation goes straight to the heart of political fallibility. . . . Elegantly written, with wonderful character sketches of the key players, this is a book to be treasured.”—The Wall Street Journal “A magisterial 600-page panorama.”—Christopher Clark, London Review of Books
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0812994701
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 935
Book Description
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • The Economist • The Christian Science Monitor • Bloomberg Businessweek • The Globe and Mail From the bestselling and award-winning author of Paris 1919 comes a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, a fascinating portrait of Europe from 1900 up to the outbreak of World War I. The century since the end of the Napoleonic wars had been the most peaceful era Europe had known since the fall of the Roman Empire. In the first years of the twentieth century, Europe believed it was marching to a golden, happy, and prosperous future. But instead, complex personalities and rivalries, colonialism and ethnic nationalisms, and shifting alliances helped to bring about the failure of the long peace and the outbreak of a war that transformed Europe and the world. The War That Ended Peace brings vividly to life the military leaders, politicians, diplomats, bankers, and the extended, interrelated family of crowned heads across Europe who failed to stop the descent into war: in Germany, the mercurial Kaiser Wilhelm II and the chief of the German general staff, Von Moltke the Younger; in Austria-Hungary, Emperor Franz Joseph, a man who tried, through sheer hard work, to stave off the coming chaos in his empire; in Russia, Tsar Nicholas II and his wife; in Britain, King Edward VII, Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, and British admiral Jacky Fisher, the fierce advocate of naval reform who entered into the arms race with Germany that pushed the continent toward confrontation on land and sea. There are the would-be peacemakers as well, among them prophets of the horrors of future wars whose warnings went unheeded: Alfred Nobel, who donated his fortune to the cause of international understanding, and Bertha von Suttner, a writer and activist who was the first woman awarded Nobel’s new Peace Prize. Here too we meet the urbane and cosmopolitan Count Harry Kessler, who noticed many of the early signs that something was stirring in Europe; the young Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty and a rising figure in British politics; Madame Caillaux, who shot a man who might have been a force for peace; and more. With indelible portraits, MacMillan shows how the fateful decisions of a few powerful people changed the course of history. Taut, suspenseful, and impossible to put down, The War That Ended Peace is also a wise cautionary reminder of how wars happen in spite of the near-universal desire to keep the peace. Destined to become a classic in the tradition of Barbara Tuchman’s The Guns of August, The War That Ended Peace enriches our understanding of one of the defining periods and events of the twentieth century. Praise for The War That Ended Peace “Magnificent . . . The War That Ended Peace will certainly rank among the best books of the centennial crop.”—The Economist “Superb.”—The New York Times Book Review “Masterly . . . marvelous . . . Those looking to understand why World War I happened will have a hard time finding a better place to start.”—The Christian Science Monitor “The debate over the war’s origins has raged for years. Ms. MacMillan’s explanation goes straight to the heart of political fallibility. . . . Elegantly written, with wonderful character sketches of the key players, this is a book to be treasured.”—The Wall Street Journal “A magisterial 600-page panorama.”—Christopher Clark, London Review of Books