Author: Margaret MacMillan
Rating:

It is no overstatement to say that the modern world has been shaped by the First World War and the Paris Peace Conference that followed. The book provides a detailed account of the conference’s proceedings, highlighting the struggles among different states and the compromises that had to be made.

One of the author’s most memorable conclusions is that the treaty should not be blamed for the collapse of Germany’s economy after World War I, as is often argued today. Various conditions and workarounds were implemented to reduce Germany’s financial burden. Additionally, the book includes a chapter on how China became a victim during the conference.