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The Trigger

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The Trigger

Written by: Tim Butcher
Narrated by: Tim Butcher
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On a summer morning in Sarajevo a hundred years ago, a teenage assassin fired not just the opening shots of the First World War but the starting gun for modern history. By killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Gavrilo Princip triggered conflict that would claim millions of lives in battle, and turmoil that would change our world. Tim Butcher uncovers the unreported details of Princip’s life and draws on his own experience, as a war reporter in the Balkans in the 1990s, to face down ghosts of conflicts past and present. The Trigger is a rich and timely work that brings to life both the moment the world first went to war and an extraordinary region with a potent hold over history.

©2014 Tim Butcher (P)2014 W F Howes Ltd 20th Century Europe Military Modern Political Science Politics & Government Wars & Conflicts World War I
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Critic Reviews

"An exploration of the life of the teenager who killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and so triggered the First World War"
"A remarkable, fascinating book by a courageous and perceptive writer" (Alexander McCall Smith) on (Blood River)
"Quite superb… a masterpiece" (John Le Carre)
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Tim butcher is a master story tellet. the narrative, th he research and the simple method of trading princepsbfootsteps reveals so much not just about princeps bit about human nature, the idea of a nation, how ethnic divides can make friendly neighbours intonenemiew and how an act can be mainoulated from time to time by whoever controlstheb nareative. the visually beautiful book wher butcher takes us with him through the stunning Balkan landscapes is just another flavour int the immensely layered book. what even more revwaling is how the stories are not only relevant but being played out even today. A must read

the fascinating story of a young man who wanted freedom

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