Why We Are at War (2nd Edition, revised)

A group of Oxford historians has assembled a meticulous, evidence‑driven account of why Europe slipped into war in 1914. Their aim is not political persuasion but a clear, historical layout of the facts, drawing on the British and German White Books, the Russian Orange Book, and a host of diplomatic papers that were rarely accessible at the time. By reproducing original documents and annotating them with scholarly insight, the authors let listeners hear the voices of ministers, diplomats and military leaders as the crisis unfolded.

The narrative moves through the tangled web of alliances, the strategic importance of Belgium and Luxembourg, and the competing ambitions of Germany, France, Russia and Britain. It also follows the frantic attempts at mediation—Sir Edward Grey’s proposals, the Austrian note to Serbia, and the elusive conference of the great powers—showing how each side interpreted responsibility and inevitability. Listeners gain a grounded sense of the diplomatic chessboard that set the stage for the conflict, without venturing into later battles or outcomes.