My experiences of the war between France and Germany, vol. 1 (of 2)

The book opens in the charged summer of 1870, when news that France had declared war on Prussia swept through London like a rolling drumbeat. As a correspondent for a daily newspaper, the writer feels the nation's collective anticipation and decides to cross the Channel, landing in Cologne just as the German army begins its rapid mobilisation. His vivid first‑hand account captures the feverish crowds, the clatter of telegrams, and the uneasy calm that precedes the clash.

From the bustling passport offices to the fringe of the frontier, he sketches a portrait of a society caught in the gears of a massive military machine. The narrative blends observations of disciplined soldiers in red breeches, the meticulous planning of generals like Moltke, and the everyday conversations of German expatriates in England. Readers are offered a clear, on‑the‑ground perspective that illuminates both the strategic sheen and the human temperament behind the early days of the conflict.