The book narrates the antecedents of the First World War and the first moments of the conflict. In 1914 Europe experienced what has been called the Belle Epoque, which envisioned a positive future for the whole world, based on the technological and social progress. However, on 28 June of that year, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, triggering a terrible war between the main European powers. During the month of August, the troops of each country mobilized. Germany almost conquered Paris and quickly could have win the war, but its forces were defeated in the battle of Marne. From that moment on, the confrontation turned into a trench war, where hundreds of soldiers died every day, and where none of them could advance.
The author focuses the narration on the causes (people, decisions, etc.) that led to the conflict and its first moments. As she points out at the beginning, she deliberately omits the Russian-Austrian front, the Balkan war and the rest of the confrontation scenarios, focusing only on the Russian-German front and the Western front, until September 1914.
Very well documented, the book is written in a way that makes it very enjoyable to read.