Coming of the First World War

In this book distinguished contributors discuss one of the most fundamental topics of modern European history. There are accessible accounts of the events and decisions in each of the main belligerent countries which precipitated the outbreak of war, as well as assessments of popular opinion and public mood, giving a comprehensive survey of opinions on the causes of the outbreak of the First World War.

Résumé
This book makes two distinctive contributions to one of the most fundamental debates in modern European history. First, it presents readable and judicious accounts of the events and decisions directly precipitating the outbreak of war in each of the main belligerent countries; second, it assesses the role of public opinion and popular mood in determining and responding to the July Crisis' of 1914. With a list of contributors who are all distinguished in different aspects of the subject, this stimulating survey covers the historiography of the immediate causes of the war, and includes new reflections on the character of the official and unofficialmentalites' during the last weeks of peace. Contributors: Sir Michael Howard, Zbynek Zeman, R. J. W. Evans, D. W. Spring, Hartmut Pogge von Strandmann, Richard Cobb, and Michael Brock.