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Books > History > World history > From 1900 > First World War
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The Darkest Days - The Truth Behind Britain's Rush to War, 1914 (Paperback)
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The Darkest Days - The Truth Behind Britain's Rush to War, 1914 (Paperback)
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List price R328
Loot Price R301
Discovery Miles 3 010
You Save R27 (8%)
Expected to ship within 9 - 15 working days
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The centenary of the outbreak of the First World War may be
commemorated by some as a great moment of national history. But the
standard history of Britain's choice for war is far from the truth.
Using a wide range of sources, including the personal papers of
many of the key figures, some for the first time, historian Douglas
Newton presents a new, dramatic narrative. He interleaves the story
of those pressing for a choice for war with the story of those
resisting Britain's descent into calamity. He shows how the
decision to go to war was rushed, in the face of vehement
opposition, in the Cabinet and Parliament, in the Liberal and
Labour press, and in the streets. There was no democratic decision
for war. The history of this opposition has been largely erased
from the record, yet it was crucial to what actually happened in
August 1914. Two days before the declaration of war four members of
the Cabinet resigned in protest at the war party's manipulation of
the crisis. The government almost disintegrated. Meanwhile large
crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square to hear the case for neutrality
and peace. Yet this cry was ignored by the government. Meanwhile,
elements of the press, the Foreign Office, and the Tory Opposition
sought to browbeat the government into a quick decision. Belgium
had little to do with it. The key decision to enter the war was
made before Belgium was invaded. Those bellowing for hostilities
were eager for Britain to enter any war in solidarity with Russia
and France - for the future safety of the British Empire. In
particular Newton shows how Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, Foreign
Minister Sir Edward Grey, and First Lord of the Admiralty Winston
Churchill colluded to pre-empt the decisions of Cabinet, to
manipulate the parliament, and to hurry the nation toward
intervention by any means necessary.
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