The Assassination of the Archduke by Greg King & Sue Woolmans

The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Murder that Changed the World by Greg King and Sue Woolmans is a fascinating and highly readable work of historical non-fiction examining the event that ignited the First World War. Combining political intrigue, royal biography, and military history, the book reconstructs the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 — a single act that would alter global history forever.

Drawing extensively from rare archival sources, unpublished letters, and family papers, the authors present a deeply human portrait of the Archduke and Sophie, whose unconventional marriage placed them at odds with the rigid hierarchy of the Austro-Hungarian court. Beyond recounting the assassination itself, The Assassination of the Archduke explores the tensions gripping Europe at the dawn of the twentieth century, the network of conspirators involved, and the devastating chain of events that followed.

Greg King and Sue Woolmans challenge many long-held myths surrounding the Sarajevo murders, presenting readers with a nuanced and compelling interpretation of the political failures, intelligence oversights, and nationalist movements that contributed to the outbreak of war. The Assassination of the Archduke is both scholarly and accessible, making it an excellent addition for collectors and readers interested in European history, military history, royal history, and First World War studies.

This 2013 Pan Macmillan paperback edition remains a sought-after title among historians and enthusiasts of twentieth-century conflict and imperial Europe. A substantial and engaging historical study that offers both detailed research and gripping narrative storytelling.

Condition – Very Good 

Very good paperback. Light shelf wear and handling marks present. Protective plastic film on the cover is peeling at the edges. Internally clean with a solid binding and well-preserved pages.