This narrative history focuses on why World War I occurred, how it was fought, and why it had the consequences it did. It examines in turn issues from the state of Europe in 1914 and the outbreak of war, to the extension of the war, the collapse of Russia, and the making of peace.

This narrative history focuses on why World War I occurred, how it was fought, and why it had the consequences it did. It examines in turn, the state of Europe in 1914 and the outbreak of war; the onset of attrition in 1915 and the extension of the war; the collapse of Russia and the weakening and eventual surrender of the Central Powers; the making of peace; and the historical controversies surrounding the causes and conduct of war.