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A Century of Conflict 1848-1948
1791 pages, Hardcover, Slipcased
First published January 1, 1998
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About the author
A.J.P. Taylor
117 books210 followersAlan John Percivale Taylor was an English historian of the 20th century and renowned academic who became well known to millions through his popular television lectures.
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December 2, 2020
A Century of Conflict by A. J. P. Taylor published by The Folio Society is a collection of Taylor’s books, lectures and newspaper articles covering the 100 years between 1848-1948. It consists of five volumes covering 4 distinct periods:
1. 1848 - 1914: The Struggle for Mastery in Europe (2 volumes)
2. 1914 - 1919: The First World War and its Aftermath
3. 1919 - 1939: The Origins of the Second World War
4. 1939 - 1948: The Second World War and its Aftermath
Taylor it must be said is a master at brevity, he is able to cover huge ground with few words. This requires serious concentration as missing a sentence one risks missing an important piece of history.
His clarity is top notch and he does not hold back when providing personal views of key players as well as pointing out faults in other historical views. On occasion ones does laugh at the brutal bluntness and cynicism he paints, especially of politicians and statesmen.
Volume 1 and 2 covers the lead up to World War 1 and admittedly he notes that it was based on lecture material and it does suffer somewhat from being a little dry. It also assumes a certain amount of knowledge to be able to consume the material. That said, the volume covers a wealth of power plays between the great powers of Europe. Despite the non-stop treaties and ententes between the powers, Europe was in fact enjoying a long period of peace and stability. Great Britain, France and Russia in one entente balancing against the entente between Prussia, Austria Hungary and the Ottomans. Needless to say, the treaties were fragile and it requires just the smallest spark to tear Europe apart and end centuries of dynastic rule.
The trigger for what must be the most pointless waste of human life was nothing more than the assassination of a minor royal from Austria-Hungary in Serbia, by nothing less than a 17 year old school leaver. In order to save face, Austria-Hungary needed to be seen to do something about it. This led to a series of political and militaristic games between the powers which were fully intended to be nothing more than sabre rattling. Unfortunately, the rush to mobilise the military and stop at the borders failed due to a pre-conceived plan by the Germans which meant that mobilisation would automatically lead to war, in this case an invasion of France via the neutral Belgium. Britain then honouring its treaty with France (begrudgingly) but mostly to stand up for Belgium then declared war against Germany, which then brought Austria- Hungary into the war. Russia was then drawn in due to a treaty with France. The result of this march of folly was the death of millions of soldiers on both sides in France and in Russia. Led by generals still fighting in the previous century against 20th century weapons led to an utter and pointless bloodbath.
The Great War, the war to end all wars in fact only proved to be the beginning of the next war. Since there were no clear aims to the war other than to simply win left many things unsettled. When all sides ran out of drive, Germany called for an armistice and the Treaty of Versailles was drawn up, slowly implemented and then over the next 20 years poorly enforced. Taylor argues that there were three things that led to the rise of Hitler and the eventual outbreak of World War 2. German discontent with the Treaty of Versailles, the critical economic situation and hyper inflation of the early 1930s and Hitler’s agitation and belief he could bully and bluff his way to reestablishing German hegemony in Europe. In fact Hitler did just that and bluffed his way to the Austrian Anschluss, the taking of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia with nothing more than bluster. What really sparked off WW2 was the belligerence of Poland and the decision over the free city of Danzig. Because Poland stood up for itself, Hitler invaded. Once again due to the treaties in place the great powers, now nation states were once again drawn into a devastating war.
Unlike the Great War, the Second World War had an aim, to defeat Nazi Germany and as Taylor said, this made it a good war.
Finally, Taylor provides an excellent high level overview of the war lords, Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, Mussolini and then a 1970s appraisal of the Cold War.
Overall an excellent overview of what led to both the World Wars. In the last pages, Taylor asks himself if he believes there will be a Third World War. Alarmingly he believed that there will be. Noting the posturing between China and the US at the moment, he may not be wrong.
1. 1848 - 1914: The Struggle for Mastery in Europe (2 volumes)
2. 1914 - 1919: The First World War and its Aftermath
3. 1919 - 1939: The Origins of the Second World War
4. 1939 - 1948: The Second World War and its Aftermath
Taylor it must be said is a master at brevity, he is able to cover huge ground with few words. This requires serious concentration as missing a sentence one risks missing an important piece of history.
His clarity is top notch and he does not hold back when providing personal views of key players as well as pointing out faults in other historical views. On occasion ones does laugh at the brutal bluntness and cynicism he paints, especially of politicians and statesmen.
Volume 1 and 2 covers the lead up to World War 1 and admittedly he notes that it was based on lecture material and it does suffer somewhat from being a little dry. It also assumes a certain amount of knowledge to be able to consume the material. That said, the volume covers a wealth of power plays between the great powers of Europe. Despite the non-stop treaties and ententes between the powers, Europe was in fact enjoying a long period of peace and stability. Great Britain, France and Russia in one entente balancing against the entente between Prussia, Austria Hungary and the Ottomans. Needless to say, the treaties were fragile and it requires just the smallest spark to tear Europe apart and end centuries of dynastic rule.
The trigger for what must be the most pointless waste of human life was nothing more than the assassination of a minor royal from Austria-Hungary in Serbia, by nothing less than a 17 year old school leaver. In order to save face, Austria-Hungary needed to be seen to do something about it. This led to a series of political and militaristic games between the powers which were fully intended to be nothing more than sabre rattling. Unfortunately, the rush to mobilise the military and stop at the borders failed due to a pre-conceived plan by the Germans which meant that mobilisation would automatically lead to war, in this case an invasion of France via the neutral Belgium. Britain then honouring its treaty with France (begrudgingly) but mostly to stand up for Belgium then declared war against Germany, which then brought Austria- Hungary into the war. Russia was then drawn in due to a treaty with France. The result of this march of folly was the death of millions of soldiers on both sides in France and in Russia. Led by generals still fighting in the previous century against 20th century weapons led to an utter and pointless bloodbath.
The Great War, the war to end all wars in fact only proved to be the beginning of the next war. Since there were no clear aims to the war other than to simply win left many things unsettled. When all sides ran out of drive, Germany called for an armistice and the Treaty of Versailles was drawn up, slowly implemented and then over the next 20 years poorly enforced. Taylor argues that there were three things that led to the rise of Hitler and the eventual outbreak of World War 2. German discontent with the Treaty of Versailles, the critical economic situation and hyper inflation of the early 1930s and Hitler’s agitation and belief he could bully and bluff his way to reestablishing German hegemony in Europe. In fact Hitler did just that and bluffed his way to the Austrian Anschluss, the taking of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia with nothing more than bluster. What really sparked off WW2 was the belligerence of Poland and the decision over the free city of Danzig. Because Poland stood up for itself, Hitler invaded. Once again due to the treaties in place the great powers, now nation states were once again drawn into a devastating war.
Unlike the Great War, the Second World War had an aim, to defeat Nazi Germany and as Taylor said, this made it a good war.
Finally, Taylor provides an excellent high level overview of the war lords, Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, Mussolini and then a 1970s appraisal of the Cold War.
Overall an excellent overview of what led to both the World Wars. In the last pages, Taylor asks himself if he believes there will be a Third World War. Alarmingly he believed that there will be. Noting the posturing between China and the US at the moment, he may not be wrong.
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