--- product_id: 61771137 title: "Europe's Last Summer: Who Started the Great War in 1914?" price: "R714" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/61771137-europes-last-summer-who-started-the-great-war-in-1914 store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # Europe's Last Summer: Who Started the Great War in 1914? **Price:** R714 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Europe's Last Summer: Who Started the Great War in 1914? - **How much does it cost?** R714 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/61771137-europes-last-summer-who-started-the-great-war-in-1914) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description When war broke out in Europe in 1914, it surprised a European population enjoying the most beautiful summer in memory. For nearly a century since, historians have debated the causes of the war. Some have cited the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand; others have concluded it was unavoidable. In Europe’s Last Summer , David Fromkin provides a different answer: hostilities were commenced deliberately. In a riveting re-creation of the run-up to war, Fromkin shows how German generals, seeing war as inevitable, manipulated events to precipitate a conflict waged on their own terms. Moving deftly between diplomats, generals, and rulers across Europe, he makes the complex diplomatic negotiations accessible and immediate. Examining the actions of individuals amid larger historical forces, this is a gripping historical narrative and a dramatic reassessment of a key moment in the twentieth-century. Review: detailed! - Outstanding and insightful review of how WW1 started. Covers the entire cast of characters and their varied contributions to this momentous event! Review: Pervertedly Hilarious - This is the first comprehensive study of the period leading to WWI that I have read, and it follows my having read two personal accounts of the devastation of trench warfare. So while I can't provide scholarly/comparison thoughts on the tide of opinions and books that this war has generated, I can say that I have described this book to my friends as being most pervertedly hilarious. Fromkin begins by setting the stage that was Europe (including the Balkans and the withering of the Ottoman Empire) in the years prior to the war and then steps through, day by day and country by country, the machinations that abounded during the period from June 28, 1914 - the assassination - through to Britain's ultimatum to Germany and Vienna's declaration of war against Russia some five weeks later. Thankfully, he then rounds up all that has been laid out in presenting his argument as to 'who started the great war.' Why pervertedly hilarious? Because no one could have written a stage play to match the game-playing between the heads of state, the confusions, the misleading, the lies, etc., etc., that sought to provide a "justifiable" reason for "war now" vs any other time. This book was fascinating from the first to the last and will require rereading for me to fully appreciate the players and the stage that was then. Awesome. And horrifying. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #507,928 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #444 in World War I History (Books) #488 in National & International Security (Books) #821 in European Politics Books | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 230 Reviews | ## Images ![Europe's Last Summer: Who Started the Great War in 1914? - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71DuAf59mpL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ detailed! *by P***L on June 20, 2026* Outstanding and insightful review of how WW1 started. Covers the entire cast of characters and their varied contributions to this momentous event! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pervertedly Hilarious *by C***S on May 11, 2015* This is the first comprehensive study of the period leading to WWI that I have read, and it follows my having read two personal accounts of the devastation of trench warfare. So while I can't provide scholarly/comparison thoughts on the tide of opinions and books that this war has generated, I can say that I have described this book to my friends as being most pervertedly hilarious. Fromkin begins by setting the stage that was Europe (including the Balkans and the withering of the Ottoman Empire) in the years prior to the war and then steps through, day by day and country by country, the machinations that abounded during the period from June 28, 1914 - the assassination - through to Britain's ultimatum to Germany and Vienna's declaration of war against Russia some five weeks later. Thankfully, he then rounds up all that has been laid out in presenting his argument as to 'who started the great war.' Why pervertedly hilarious? Because no one could have written a stage play to match the game-playing between the heads of state, the confusions, the misleading, the lies, etc., etc., that sought to provide a "justifiable" reason for "war now" vs any other time. This book was fascinating from the first to the last and will require rereading for me to fully appreciate the players and the stage that was then. Awesome. And horrifying. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Overview *by B***E on July 25, 2010* For the reader who wants to just one book to add to their personal library on World War One, David Fromkin's "Europe's Last Summer, Who Started the Great War in 1914?" is the book to purchase. This condensed, yet comprehensive review of the key players and seminal events to the Great War in 1914 gives an excellent overview of the activities of the six major players leading to the war. The author has a long track record of excellence as the Professor of History for International Relations and Law at Boston University and as the Director of the Fredrick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Long Range Future, to name a few of his activities. This book sets out to dispel the belief that the war was unavoidable and a shock to the unsuspecting leaders in Europe in 1914. He builds the case that WWI was actually two wars in one, which were deliberately started by Germany and Austro-Hungary who manipulated events to achieve their goals. The two nations had different "goals," but the outcome was the same; world war. Fromkin doesn't mince words about who he believes was the culprit in starting the war almost right from the start, but he does his homework in analyzing the many theories about the causes of WWI. This homework is broken down into 53 chapters which cover events leading into the 37 days from the murder of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and moving on to the multiple declarations of war. This repetition allows the reader to see each event from multiple perspectives and helps to drive home key facts and events leading to the war. These comments may create the impression that this book is another dry academic history book; on the contrary, he writes in such a way that engages the reader much in the same way that popular historians entertain their readers. The books' prologue warns the reader that the results of July & August of 1914 were not a surprise to the alert individual. There were warning signs that indicated something ominous was brewing in Europe that summer. Fromkin's lead-in helps to build a sense of suspense that compels the reader to drive on to learn about those warning signs, because they could be an indicator to future dangers. The second part of this prologue gives an explanation to the reader on just how influential the Great War was on our current world. Part ii of the prologue, pages 5-12, list some of the major impacts WWI had on the post war world. He outlines how as many as 61 million lives were lost from 1914-1919 resulting in the "redrawing of the world map" following the war. When considering the subject matter, it was a bit surprising to find that the book is based primarily on secondary sources, many of which he references periodically in his narrative. The small map, the 16 pages of photos and the "Who Was Who" listing on page 317 were very helpful in maintaining an overall understanding of the chain of events and all the key people discussed in the book. A map depicting the two sides at the beginning of the actual fighting would have helped visualize how Germany's actions resulted in the self fulfilling prophesy of being encircled by her enemies. Fromkin argues convincingly that the Great War was started by the willful designs of two nations, Austria and Germany. Fromkin lays out significant evidence to establish the guilt of the German Chief of Staff, Helmuth von Moltke, as the key antagonist in starting WWI. The analysis provides a strong argument in defense of his claims that Moltke manipulated conditions and people's fears and pride to start the war, regardless of how events unfolded. He ultimately fails to demonstrate how one man could possess sufficient influence and power to impose his will on all the key decision-makers in his capital and on nations outside of Germany. He outlines in his assessment that WWI was two wars, not one. "What seems to have mystified historians for decades, in attempting to answer all sorts of questions about war origins in 1914, is that there were two wars being proposed that summer, not one" . He describes Austria's war against Serbia, and Germany's war against Russia. His portrayal of key decision-makers in each of the great powers illustrates the often overlooked reality that the Europeans governments did not each act in one accord, but had many conflicting positions and had competing priorities within their own administrations as well as within the alliances. "Europe's Last Summer" is a good book that presents a condensed yet comprehensive review of the key facts leading to the start of WWI. Fromkin's reversal of the accepted belief that WWI was an accident or undesired war and was actually a deliberate act resulting in two wars in one will generate new research in the field. It is well worth the purchase price to add this work to the library of any aspiring historian. Bryan Brokate --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/61771137-europes-last-summer-who-started-the-great-war-in-1914](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/61771137-europes-last-summer-who-started-the-great-war-in-1914) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-07-24*