The Shots That Ignited a Bloodbath: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary

In a Europe dominated by empires in the early years of the twentieth century, ethnic nationalism is challenging the status quo, threatening to throw the continent into an unfathomable turmoil. To hedge against this impending war, the different European leaders embarked on strengthening the alliances they had formed.

Appearing the most vulnerable to this phenomenon is the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire, which is situated at the heart of Europe and whose citizens come from Europe's three major language groups. But strangely enough, its emperor Franz Josef is loved by the majority of all the nationalities of the empire.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is expected to succeed the aging Emperor soon. His marriage, which is considered one of the world's "Greatest Love Affairs", is an inspiration for an empire badly in need of unity; and his open-mindedness, progressive administration, and tenacious nature promise to transform the empire into a beacon of hope in a tumultuous Europe and world. However, his assassination by a group of young men trained, armed, and funded by fanatics in neighboring Serbia, would spark off the greatest war of its time, a world war whose effects still haunt the world today.

In THE SHOTS THAT IGNITED A BLOODBATH, Janvier T. Chando presents an honest, insightful, and unique account of the atmosphere leading to World War One, putting in the hands of the reader powerful perspectives that can change our turbulent world for the better.