The centennial of the outbreak of World War I is approaching and, as it does, you can be sure that the stack of books reexamining the "war to end all wars" will only grow higher and deeper. An excellent place to start would be 1913: In Search of the World Before the Great War by international affairs scholar Charles Emmerson. Emmerson looks at life in 20-some cities in the year 1913 and finds the planet being shaped by currents that seem surprisingly contemporary: globalism, terrorism, and the rapid growth of technology. "1913" is a portrait that both informs and surprises. You can read our full review here.
