In the summer of 1914 Europe exploded into a frenzy of mass violence. The war that followed had global repercussions, destroying four empires and costing millions of lives. This title re-examines the causes, course and impact of this 'war to end war', placing it in the context of its era and exposing its underlying dynamics.

1914-1918, David Stevenson's history of the First World War, has been acclaimed as the definitive one-volume account of the conflict

In the summer of 1914 Europe exploded into a frenzy of mass violence. The war that followed had global repercussions, destroying four empires and costing millions of lives. Even the victorious countries were scarred for a generation, and we still today remain within the conflict's shadow. In this major analysis David Stevenson re-examines the causes, course and impact of this 'war to end war', placing it in the context of its era and exposing its underlying dynamics. His book provides a wide-ranging international history, drawing on insights from the latest research. It offers compelling answers to the key questions about how this terrible struggle unfolded: questions that remain disturbingly relevant for our own time.

'It's harder to imagine a better single-volume comprehensive history of the conflict than this superb study' Ian Kershaw

'Perhaps the best comprehensive one-volume history of the war yet written' New Yorker

'David Stevenson is the real deal ... His defining characteristic is his outstanding rigour as an historian ... tremendously clever' Niall Ferguson

'This history of the 1914-1918 conflict surpasses all others. It is tough, erudite and comprehensive' Independent