Covering all aspects of World War I, from its origins and course to the peace settlements and the crises they generated, this book unravels the historical controversies and also considers the social, cultural and economic consequences of the war for the whole of Europe.

The First World War was one of the single most important events of the twentieth century. Spanning the globe it was both complex in its origins and disastrous in its conclusions, leaving a legacy which would lead ultimately to the even greater destruction of the Second World War. This companion provides a source of accurate information and clear explanation of the issues surrounding the First World War in Europe, including the cultural climate, military campaigns, war aims and peace efforts and the diverse home fronts. The many helpful features of the volume include:* Explanatory maps
* Critical biographies
* Glossary of unfamiliar terms
* Chronologies
* Extensive critical bibliography
* Clear and reader friendly charts and graphs This book is much more than a list of facts: political, social and cultural significance of events are explained clearly, and the reader is made aware of their wider implication and context. Issues are looked at from the perspective of all the major European countries, showing how the same events can be viewed very differently through the distorting lenses of competing national ambitions, and how the belligerents responded in radically different ways to the challenges of international crisis and total war. Colin Nicolson is Senior Lecturer in History, University of North London.