The account of the Great War portrayed in this book spans the last
hundred days of the conflict; from the surprise blow struck by the
British at Amiens on 8 August, down to the signing of the Armistice
which ended the war three months later.
For the first time all of the sub-plots in the story are given their
proper weight, as we see Germany's allies being knocked out one by one.
The triumphs and tragedies are told in the words of the actors
themselves, humble and mighty. Mr Brook-Shepherd's original eye-witness
sources range from the eighty-nine-year-old former Empress Zita of
Austria-Hungary (the last surviving member of Europe's old ruling
order), to private soldiers who fought on both sides of the barbed wire.
In describing the death of Old Europe and the suicide of the Empires,
the author provides a far-reaching overview of the new world order that
dawned in November 1918. The result is a panorama rich in colour and
human interest which provides a background to the events of that year;
an essential lesson for readers even today.