A meticulously researched and vividly written account of the day that changed the world forever.

On June 28, 1914, in the heart of Sarajevo, a single act of violence shattered the fragile peace of Europe. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie, ignited a chain of events that would plunge the world into the deadliest conflict humanity had ever known.

This book delves into the complex historical tapestry surrounding the assassination, exploring the motivations of the young assassins, the political machinations of the Habsburg Empire, and the ethnic tensions that had been simmering for decades in the Balkans.

Through meticulous research and vivid descriptions, the author brings to life the key figures involved—from the meticulous and ambitious Archduke to the idealistic and desperate Gavrilo Princip—and reveals how their actions on that fateful day set in motion a global conflict that would redefine the twentieth century.