"Today, 1913 is inevitably viewed through the lens of 1914: as the last year before a war that would shatter the global economic order and tear Europe apart, undermining its global pre-eminence. Our perspective narrowed by hindsight, the world of that year is reduced to its most frivolous features... In this illuminating history, Charles Emmerson liberates the world of 1913 from this "prelude to war" narrative, and explores it as it was, in all its...

The book explores the great issues, fascinating stories, provocative figures, startling events, and underlying trends that have shaped the century. Each year is covered in a separate section that relates the most important events of the year. Provocative essays about each decade provide insight into the current of the times. Includes maps, charts, graphs, photos, and Datelines for each year of the twentieth century. Indexed.

Covers major events and discoveries of the twentieth century in chronological sequence.