Main content

20th July

The French President arrives on a state visit to Russia.

The French President arrives on a state visit to Russia.

Margaret Macmillan chronicles the events leading up to the First world war. Each episode draws together newspaper accounts, diplomatic correspondence and private journals from the same day exactly one hundred years ago, giving a picture of the world in 1914 as it was experienced at the time.

The series tracks the development of the European crisis day by day, from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand through to the first week of the conflict. As well as the war, it gives an insight into the wider context of the world in 1914 including the threat of civil war in Ireland, the sensational trial of Madame Caillaux in France and the suffragettes' increasingly violent campaign for votes for women.

Margaret Macmillan is professor of international history at Oxford University.

Presenter and Writer: Margaret Macmillan

Assistant Producers: Phil Smith and Carly Maile
Researcher: Dawn Berry
Music: Sacha Puttnam
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Broadcast Assistant: Hannah Newton
Development Consultant: Catriona Pennell

Readings: Andrew Byron, Stephen Greif, Felix von Manteuffel, Jaime Stewart, Simon Tcherniak
Jane Whittenshaw

Producer: Russell Finch
Executive Producer: Joby Waldman
A Somethin' Else Production for 成人快手 Radio 4.

Available now

5 minutes

Last on

Sun 20 Jul 2014 16:55

Broadcast

  • Sun 20 Jul 2014 16:55

1914: Day by Day cartoons

Twelve cartoonists respond to world events in the lead-up to WW1

World War One on TV and Radio

Marking the centenary of World War One across the 成人快手

37 Days: Countdown

How did an assassination in Sarajevo lead to war?

Podcast