The War That Ended Peace – How Europe Abandoned Peace for the First World War by Margaret MacMillan

Margaret MacMillan’s The War That Ended Peace: How Europe Abandoned Peace for the First World War is widely regarded as one of the most important modern studies of the origins of the First World War. Written by the acclaimed historian and Samuel Johnson Prize-winning author of Peacemakers, this monumental work examines the political, diplomatic, military and social forces that gradually pushed Europe towards catastrophe in 1914.

Rather than presenting the outbreak of war as an inevitable event, MacMillan carefully reconstructs the final decades of peace in Europe, exploring the personalities, rivalries and decisions that shaped the continent’s destiny. Through vivid portraits of statesmen, monarchs, generals and diplomats, she reveals how ambition, nationalism, imperial competition and military planning combined to create a climate in which war became increasingly likely.

Drawing on extensive research and a wealth of primary and secondary sources, The War That Ended Peace provides a compelling account of Europe during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Readers gain insight into the political culture of Britain, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary and Russia, while also understanding the interconnected alliances and tensions that ultimately culminated in global conflict.

Both scholarly and highly accessible, The War That Ended Peace appeals to military historians, students, collectors and general readers seeking a deeper understanding of one of history’s most significant turning points. It remains an essential work for anyone interested in World War I, diplomacy, international relations and modern European history.

Condition – Near Fine

2013 hardcover in a near fine unclipped dust jacket. Light edge wear. A clean and attractive copy.