Description
Book Synopsis1914 dawned with Britain at peace, albeit troubled by faultlines within and threats without: Ireland trembled on the brink of civil war; suffragette agitation was assuming an ever more violent hue; and suspicions of Germany's ambitions bred a paranoia expressed in a rash of ‘invasion scare' literature.
Then when shots rang out in Sara-jevo on 28 June, they set in train a tumble of diplomatic dominos that led to Britain declaring war on Germany.
Nigel Jones depicts every facet of a year that changed Britain for ever. From gun-running in Ulster to an attack by suffragettes on a Velasquez painting in the National Gallery; from the launch of HMHS Britannic to cricketer J.T. Hearne's 3000th first-class wicket; from the opening of London's first nightclub to the embarking for Belgium of the BEF, he traces the events of a momentous year from its benign domestic beginnings to its descent into the nightmare of European war.
Trade Review'Lavishly illustrated ... Jones has a hawk's eye for fascinating historical detail'
Sunday Express.
'A terrific account that makes a strong bid for inclusion in any collection'
BBC History Magazine.
'Excellent ... an exceedingly valuable history of the year as well as being a damned good read ... a brilliant primer for the First World War' The Army Review Service.
'A fascinating introduction to the First World War ... a recommended read for anyone interested in discovering what life was really like for ordinary people at this time'
Discover Your History.
'Elegant and enjoyable ... A superb snapshot of Britain ... an outstanding introduction to the first year of the Great War'
Irish Times.
'This book captures a society on the edge and ready for change'
Good Book Guide.
'Jones paints a vivid portrait of a nation increasingly uneasy with itself and its place in the world as the storm clouds started to gather'
Choice Magazine.
