37 Days: The Countdown to World War 1

37 Days37 Days: The Countdown to World War 1 is a masterful tense and gripping three 'part political thriller, set within the corridors of power in Whitehall and Berlin tracks the unfolding crisis through the eyes of leading politicians and civil servants struggling to prevent the world's first global war.A stellar cast, led by Ian McDiarmid and Tim Piggott-Smith, reveal the complex behind-closed-doors story of the countdown to World War One in this political thriller following the catastrophic chain of events that led from the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28th June 1914, to the declaration of war between Britain and Germany on 4th August.One Month In SummerThe British Foreign Office, led by foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey, receives news of an assassination in the Balkans. In Berlin, the Kaiser thinks he can exploit it for his own advantage.One Week In JulyWar in Europe is becoming a real possibility. Under pressure from the cabinet, the British foreign secretary unravels a tangled web of intrigue between Austria, Germany, Russia and France, while the German military command conspires to force the Kaiser's hand. Who will gain the upper hand?One Long WeekendThe last hours of peace. With the continental powers pushed to the brink, Sir Edward Grey seems unsure of whether to keep Britain out of the conflict. Desperate negotiations, resignations and a battle of wills in the Cabinet reach a crescendo with Germany's ultimatum to Belgium. Which way will Britain go?