Includes bibliographical references (p. 331-336) and index

Out of the blue -- The importance of the question -- A summer to remember -- Part 1: Europe's tensions. Empires clash ; Classes struggle ; Nations quarrel ; Countries arm ; Zarathustra prophesies ; Diplomats align -- Part 2: Walking through minefields. The Eastern Question ; A challenge for the Archduke ; Explosive Germany -- Part 3: Drifting toward war. Macedonia--out of control ; Austria--first off the mark ; France and Germany make their play ; Italy grasps--then the Balkans do too ; The Slavic tide ; Europe goes to the brink ; More Balkan tremors ; An American tries to stop it -- Part 4: Murder!. The last waltz ; In the land of the assassins ; The Russian connection ; The terrorists strike ; Europe yawns ; Disposing of the bodies ; Rounding up the suspects -- Part 5: Telling lies. Germany signs a blank check ; The great deception ; Berchtold runs out of time ; The secret is kept -- Part 6: Crisis!. The fait is not accompli ; Presenting an ultimatum ; Serbia more or less accepts -- Part 7: Countdown. Showdown in Berlin ; July 26 ; July 27 ; July 28 ; July 29 ; July 30 ; July 31 ; August 1 ; August 2 ; August 3 ; August 4 ; Shredding the evidence -- Part 8: The mystery solved. Assembling in the library ; What did not happen ; The key to what happened ; What was it about? ; Who could have prevented it? ; Who started it? ; Could it happen again? ; Summing up -- Epilogue. Austria's war ; Germany's war

Draws on current scholarship to argue that hostilities that led to World War I were started intentionally, describing the negotiations and personalities of key leaders that contributed to the failure of diplomatic efforts

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