My Four Years in Germany

A first-person diplomatic memoir recounts experiences at an imperial court and embassy during the European war, describing official ceremonies, daily diplomatic routines, interactions with government and military officials, and observations on militarism, propaganda, and home-front conditions. The narrator analyzes causes and psychology behind national war enthusiasm, logistical and agricultural practices affecting food supply, naval and submarine threats, and diplomatic crises that led to his country's entry into the conflict. The book mixes diary-like episodes, political assessment, and foreword reflections on strategy, public opinion, and the challenges facing democratic nations in a world dominated by autocratic war planning.