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Description
Europe endured such incessant political discord throughout the twentieth century that some historians refer to the period’s conflicts as the Long War. During the Balkan wars of 1912–1913, regional fighting in southeastern Europe ignited conflict across the continent that continued through both world wars and the Cold War.
In Consumed by War: European Conflict in the 20th Century, Richard C. Hall illuminates the complex diplomatic and military struggles of a region whose instability, rooted in a nineteenth-century nationalistic fervor, provided a catalyst for the political events that ensued. From the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 to the incarceration of Radovan Karadzic in 2008, this narrative history appeals to general readers and scholars interested in a fresh interpretation of a complicated and brutal era.
Richard C. Hall, professor of history at Georgia Southwestern State University, is the author of Bulgaria’s Road to the First World War and The Balkan Wars, 1912–1913: Prelude to the First World War.
"Hall combines fast-paced narrative and perspective analysis to make a case for a common thread in the series of wars that dominated and shaped twentieth century Europe. From the Great War through World War II and the Cold War, nationalism and ideology kept settlements fragile and peace elusive. The long conflict eventually facilitated the development of European unity and identity. But the price was bitterly high, and some bills remain outstanding."—Dennis Showalter, author of Patton and Rommel: Men of War in the Twentieth Century
"Hall handles deftly the complex elements of this catastrophic war."—Malcolm Muir Jr., Director, John A. Adams Center for Military History and Strategic Analysis
"The idea of a long war in the twentieth century is not new, but what is new is the author’s understanding of eastern Europe and his integration of this into the history of European conflict."—Robert A. Doughty, author of Pyrrhic Victory: French Strategy and Operations in the Great War
"Hall’s work is thought provoking in the stability of Europe and forms a welcome addition to the discussion of this topic."—NDW Waterline
"Hall's excellent analysis of events and his crisp and easily read writing style make this a fine book for a survey course in twentieth-century European history or for the general reader seeking a short overview."—War in History
"Hall plows well-trodden ground here, but his book, based on ample reading in the important monographic literature, is a useful overview. The volume’s greatest strengths appear in the author’s easy familiarity with the messy, turbulent Balkans. Recommended."—Choice
"The author impressively commands a seemingly endless arade of diplomats, diplomatic disputes, changing borders, and, ultimately, conflicts."—Historian
Publication Date
2009
Publisher
The University Press of Kentucky
Place of Publication
Lexington, KY
ISBN
9780813125589
eISBN
9780813159959
Keywords
History of war, Long War, European military history
Disciplines
Military History
Recommended Citation
Hall, Richard C., "Consumed by War: European Conflict in the 20th Century" (2009). Military History. 23.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_military_history/23
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