A bit slow beginning, but it really puts in perspective the problems then which have led to the problems today. ( )

Its taking me longer to read than it did for the actual events to unfold. I find myself quickly diverting off to find another read and come back to this for short periods, taking each chapter in like it's study material. ( )

This is the best non-fiction I've read this year. It's a dense read, packed with geography, history, and politics, but with enough funny stories to stop it from getting too difficult. I loved it.

Margaret MacMillan tells the story of the carve-up of the world after World War 1, starting with chapters on the 3 men who did most of the carving: Woodrow Wilson, Georges Clemenceau, and David Lloyd-George, her great-grandfather. From there she moves onto a detailed look at the different regions. There is tons of detail - if you're looking for a rough and ready overview of the world in 1920, this isn't your book. I found the Central Europe section rewarding but very slow going, because it was the least familiar to me. The maps are really good and kept me from getting lost.
It's a very depressing book though. She is clear about how the Paris deal-making contributed to Hitler's rise, World War 2, and many current conflicts. (For NZ and Aussie readers, our dear leaders don't cover themselves in glory...) ( )

Very readable, shows how difficult it is to maintain peace when everyone has a different agenda. ( )

I felt that this book handled the topic very fairly with a great deal of impudence. Macmillan flies in the face of her critics and those of mainstream thought on the matter. A splendid read and well researched. ( )