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The Darkest Days

The Truth Behind Britain’s Rush to War, 1914

Douglas Newton

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English
Verso
25 March 2015
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.

By:  
Imprint:   Verso
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 198mm,  Width: 129mm,  Spine: 32mm
Weight:   440g
ISBN:   9781781688168
ISBN 10:   1781688168
Pages:   416
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Douglas Newton was the Associate Professor of History at University of Western Sydney. He is the author of 'British Policy and the Weimar Republic 1918-19; Germany 1919-45, and British Labour, European Socialism and the Struggle for Peace 1889-1914. He lives in Australia.

Reviews for The Darkest Days: The Truth Behind Britain’s Rush to War, 1914

Should Britain have entered the war in 1914? This question has recently aroused controversy. As Douglas Newton shows, it was controversial in 1914, too. This book is a compellingly written, tightly argued, deeply researched and bracingly revisionist study of the decisions that led to British intervention. Newton uproots many hardy myths and reveals the deep divisions within the political elite of a country on the brink of war. - Christopher Clark, author of The Sleepwalkers Sound and informative. - Keith Robbins in praise of British Labour, European Socialism and the Struggle for Peace 1889-1914, Times Literary Supplement Newton writes well, and with a feel for the tragedy of the Great War missing in most accounts ... the scholarship invested in this work is meticulous. - John McDermott, in praise of British Policy and the Weimar Republic 1918-1919, International History Review Newton's history is meticulously researched ... - Jill Liddington in praise of British Labour, European Socialism and the Struggle for Peace 1889-1914, History Workshop Journal


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