
A seasoned diplomat and scholar, the author brings readers into the hidden rooms of European power during the early years of the Great War. Drawing on first‑hand experience in the Balkans, the courts of Vienna, and even the lecture halls of Moscow, he offers a rare, multilingual perspective on the leaders shaping the conflict. His encounters with figures such as Venizelos and other Balkan statesmen give the narrative a personal, on‑the‑ground feel.
The work examines the causes of the war, the rise of German militarism, and the strategic choices confronting Britain and its allies. Written in clear, urgent prose, it urges the British public to grasp the magnitude of the struggle and the moral imperative of total commitment. The author's vivid descriptions of diplomatic negotiations make the abstract politics feel immediate and pressing.
Beyond a simple chronicle, the book serves as a call to action, urging citizens to align their will with the cause of liberty and justice. Its candid assessment of national attitudes and the looming cataclysm offers modern listeners a window into the mindset of 1917. Listeners will come away with a deeper appreciation of the stakes that defined an era.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (487K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Irma Spehar and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2009-07-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1855–1933
A globe-trotting journalist and prolific writer, this Irish-born scholar reported on major political upheavals across Europe and Russia. His work blended sharp foreign correspondence with books on religion, politics, and international affairs.
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