This fascinating book gives us an infallible insight from one shrewd politician about the times, circumstances and the most significant events which led to the outbreak of World War 1. Although the book nominally stars in 1911 when Churchill became head of the Admiralty, the narrative commences in 1870 with the Franco-Prussian War and ends with Turkey and the Balkans. Churchill comments on German "threats of war" over recognition by Serbia of the Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, which led to talks between the British and French General Staffs over concerted action in the event of war.