Literary Muster – 1913: The Eve of War
Was European / Global war in 1914 inevitable? This is the question author/historian Paul Ham addressees in this provocative, perhaps even controversial short (~83 pages) essay.
1913: The Eve of War is a look at the state of Europe immediately prior the commencement of war in 1914. Little time is wasted and the essay gets straight to the point and gives understandable and believable reasons for why global war broke out in 1914.
I found this re-examination of the causes of the First World War to be both a short introduction to a complex historical subject as well as a, thought-provoking, contribution to the ongoing debate over the origins of this massive global conflict.
If you are looking for an in-depth study, this essay will not be your answer. If, however, you are looking for a good, short and thought provoking read this essay will fit the bill nicely.
Writing history is hard. In my opinion, Paul Ham has done an excellent job of writing history. He tires to write and observe from the point of those who lived through the time period without adding the distortions of the benefits (such as they are) of our hindsight and view of the past.