The Economic Consequences of the Peace - The Original Classic Edition

The Classic Account of the Versailles Peace Treaty - This book gave economist John Maynard Keynes a huge influence on perceptions of the peace treaty signed after World War I -- an influence that has been controversial ever since. Critics still argue over whether Keynes exaggerated the deleterious effects of the treaty on Germanys economy. Some also contend that the account, which was widely read during the 1920s, encouraged both German intransigence to overturning the treaty and Allied acquiescence in allowing it to be overturned -- two key factors in the rise of Hitler and the reconsolidation of German military power before World War II.

Keynes book remains highly readable in many sections. He was not only a brilliant economist, but a superb writer with a keen eye for the foibles of the great men of his time. However, some sections of the text, such as the one dealing with reparations, are abstruse and less suitable to the modern audience. These are still brilliantly told, but unless you are a grad student or a scholar with a particular interest in the many details of Germanys economy in the early part of the century as well as the demands put on it by the treaty, you are not likely to find these sections as gripping as the others.

The book must be read by those interested in the Versailles Peace Treaty and the aftermath of its signing. Even today, the power of Keynes argument is evident.

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