Before the War

A meticulous chronicle of Britain’s diplomatic tightrope between 1906 and the eve of the Great War, this volume draws on the era’s leading newspapers to reconstruct the government’s twin aims: to preserve peace while quietly preparing for the possibility of conflict. Listeners will hear how ministers wrestled with public pressure for overt peace‑building, yet were forced to conduct secret negotiations that could not be aired without jeopardising their fragile strategy.

The narrative explores the clash of voices—from ardent pacifists to fervent nationalists—and the uneasy belief that war was not inevitable, even as Europe’s armaments swelled. By examining key decisions in Berlin and Vienna, the book reveals the delicate calculations that shaped the international stage, offering a nuanced portrait of the moments when diplomacy teetered on the brink of catastrophe.