1913: The Year before the Storm Main Edition

A hugely enjoyable idiosyncratic month by month narrative, in which the frenzy of artistic activity in London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Trieste is conveyed with vigour and humour ― Daily Telegraph Published On: 2013-06-08

A vivid, richly textured book that chronicles a world crackling with talent, energy and foreboding ― FT Published On: 2013-07-20

A brilliant game of original quotations and tracings ― Der Spiegel Published On: 2012-10-22

Illies shapes his material not as a scholar, but as a wordsmith, as a story-teller with a strong sense for dramatic effect and composition...the most enjoyable book I've read in years ― Die Welt Published On: 2012-10-26

Illies makes the hundred years between 1913 and his readers disappear. A beautiful book. ― Süddeutsche Zeitung Published On: 2012-10-25

Illies is as astute a researcher as he is an observer of the zeitgeist ... reads like something out of a magic realist novel. -- Philip Oltermann ― Guardian Published On: 2013-07-20

I couldn't stop reading - Illies' stories are simply magnificent -- Ferdinand von Schirach

Thorough and fascinating ― Time Out Published On: 2013-07-09

An absolute gem of a book. His snapshot approach to the year, recorded month by month, is the most original historical account I've come across ... Illies's genius turn of phrase, beautifully retained by Shaun Whiteside and Jamie Lee Searle's elegant translation, can be found throughout ... The entries read like history's footnotes, but as anyone who's read Freud knows, the footnotes always tell the best story. -- Lucy Scholes ― Observer Published On: 2013-07-21

A fascinating book of brief reports -- Michael Prodger ― New Statesman Published On: 2013-07-26

A triumph ... history that reads like memoir. It achieves what so few histories manage in giving the reader a genuine feeling for the era ... Illies uses the facts skilfully to weave a captivating narrative. -- Simon Round ― Jewish Chronicle Published On: 2013-07-26

There is a wry humour in many of Illies's entries ... an entertaining and illuminating study of a particular moment in time. -- Shirley Whiteside ― Independent on Sunday Published On: 2013-08-04

A compelling tour through a portentous year ... a sleek translation -- James Walsh ― Morning Star Published On: 2013-08-26

Florian Illies gives a rationality, a sense of purpose to the seemingly random. -- Lesley McDowell ― Sunday Herald Published On: 2013-08-04

Brilliantly sardonic ... imagined on similar lines to Tom Stoppard's Travesties -- Richard Osborne ― The Oldie Published On: 2013-12-01

It's an utterly delicious treat or an ideal present for anyone even mildly interested in 20th-century art, music and literature ... Florian Illies presents modernism's birth as a sexy, comic and occasionally heartbreaking soap opera ... an irresistible book. -- Michael Dirda ― Washington Post Published On: 2013-11-20

a riveting chronicle of a crucial year -- Philip French ― Observer Published On: 2013-11-24

One of the most intriguing, and original, history books of the year ... Illies's approach turns history into a giant jigsaw with the pieces moving blindly and ominously into place. -- John Preston ― Daily Mail Published On: 2013-12-13

Books of the Year: History as a human comedy is seldom as wittily handled as in this clever satire based on fact, folly, a host of famous names and the comment that became a mantra as Europe staggered ever closer to war -- Eileen Battersby ― Irish Times Published On: 2013-12-21

Stuffed with fascinating detail -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett ― Times Published On: 2013-12-21