The author of this volume was former prime minister of Roumania. Of this English version Viscount Bryce writes in the introduction: “the descriptions it contains are for the most part vigorous sketches rather than portraits. Some, however, may be called vignettes, more or less finished drawings, each consisting of few lines, but those lines sharply and firmly drawn. Intermingled with this score of personal sketches there are also a few brief essays or articles which set before us particular scenes, little fragments of history in which the author bore a part, all relating to the persons who either figured in the war, or were concerned with the intrigues from which it sprang.” Contents: Monsieur Poincaré; Prince Lichnowsky; Count Berchtold; The marquis Pallavicini; Count Goluchowsky; August 2, 1914; Kiderlen-Waechter; Count Aehrenthal; Count Czernin; Count Mensdorff; England’s antipathy to war; The responsibility for the war; King Charles of Roumania; Herr Riedl; Count Szeczen; Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace; Baron Banffy; Roumanian policy; Tragedy; Count Tisza; Talaat Pasha; Prince von Bülow; Taticheff; France and the Teuton; A cousin of Tisza; New Italy; Why four last Germans; Eleutherios Venizelos; The kaiser.
“Some light is thrown on the events immediately preceding the war, and although the book is almost diplomatically polite, we see once more of what poor quality these official great men usually are.”
+ Ath p1387 D 19 ’19 50w + Booklist 16:275 My ’20 Dial 68:665 My ’20 50w + Ind 104:68 O 9 ’20 80w
“Through all the back-stage chat which a diplomat loves we catch sharp flashes which throw into new relief many of the great events connected with the war.” H. F. Armstrong
+ Nation 110:658 My 15 ’20 520w + R of Rs 61:445 Ap ’20 180w + Springf’d Republican p12 Je 8 ’20 400w
“The book, being what it is, naturally does not contain or profess to contain the matured contribution to the history of the last decades which we hope some day to have from his pen; but none the less it will be useful to many and can be read with pleasure by all.”
+ The Times [London] Lit Sup p704 D 4 ’19 1300w
JOSEPH, MRS HELEN (HAIMAN). Book of marionettes. il *$5 Huebsch 792
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