This isn't a book with a plot in the traditional sense. Current History was a monthly magazine, and this volume is a snapshot of a single, terrifying moment: June 1918. The world is in the fourth year of a war that was supposed to be over quickly. The 'story' it tells is the fractured, confusing narrative of a global crisis, assembled from dispatches, political analysis, and firsthand accounts.

The Story

The collection opens a window onto several simultaneous dramas. There are detailed reports from the Western Front, analyzing the German Spring Offensive and the desperate Allied defense. But the real heart of the volume lies elsewhere. A major section is devoted to Russia, grappling with the Bolshevik takeover, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and the ensuing civil war—events that were still unfolding. Other essays examine America's massive mobilization, the political situation in Austria-Hungary (an empire cracking apart), and early, hopeful discussions about a future League of Nations. It's a chorus of voices, some expert, some partisan, all trying to chart a course through the fog of war.

Why You Should Read It

What gripped me was the palpable uncertainty. These writers don't have the answer key. When they discuss Russia, they're guessing at what Lenin's rule will mean. When they talk about peace, it's a yearning, not a certainty. You feel the weight of the present. It strips away the neat cause-and-effect we learn in school and replaces it with the messy, scary reality of not knowing what comes next. Reading the optimistic pieces about post-war reconstruction, knowing the harsh peace and economic turmoil that actually followed, is a uniquely powerful and sobering experience.

Final Verdict

This is for the curious reader who finds standard history texts too polished. It's perfect for anyone interested in World War I, the birth of the modern world, or just the psychology of living through monumental change. It's not a light read—some sections are dense with period detail—but it is a profoundly immersive one. Think of it as the most authentic historical documentary you'll ever read, filmed without a script. Keep it on your shelf next to the grand historical narratives; this is the raw material they were built from.