Prelude to War neatly sums up the chaos that claimed Europe after the end of the Great War. With most of the cities and countryside in ruins, millions of people out of work and starving, and governments without clear futures or strong leaders, revolutions and civil unrest threatened to take the world to new levels of defeat. This easy-to-read narrative (complete with terrific journalistic pictures) looks at each revolution and takeover, slowly weaving the threads of resentment and aggression that eventually led to World War II. I found it very interesting and educational. ( )