This volume, a classic of its time, discusses the tragic evolution of European politics from 1870-1914. The main part of the book describes the development of the relations between France, Germany, Russia and Britain and follows the sequence of political events, the Triple Alliance and Bismarck's secret treaties, the Triple Entente, Morocco and the Conference of Algeciras, The Annexation of Bosnia, Agadir, Tripoli, the Bagdad Railway, Persia, the Far East, the Balkan Wars.

Its value remains because while other books deal with the actions of individuals, this volume indicates the underlying forces of which they were the victims.