2014 Writers Week presents two experts on ‘the war to end all wars’
As part of a year of commemorations of the outbreak of World War I, the New Zealand Festival is pleased to host two of
the finest military historians during Writers Week, 7-12 March.
On Saturday 8th March British-based professor Margaret MacMillan will discuss her latest book, The War that Ended Peace: How Europe Abandoned Peace for the First World War which has been described by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as “one of the finest books I have ever read
on the causes of World War I”.
On 12th March The Great Adventure will be brought to life in a special event at the Film Archive when Lieutenant Colonel (rtd) Chris Pugsley will narrate
film footage from WWI with live musical accompaniment.
MacMillan is Warden of St. Antony’s College and Professor of International History at the University of Oxford. Her books include Women of the Raj and international bestsellers Nixon in China and Peacemakers: The Paris Conference 1919 and its Attempt to End the War - “The story of Europe’s diplomatic meltdown has never been better told” (The Spectator). She won the 2002 Samuel Johnson Prize for Peacemakers. In her latest book, MacMillan argues that the WWI could have been avoided up to the last minute, and examines why Europe
walked into this catastrophic conflict.
Pugsley is one of New Zealand’s leading military historians. A former Army officer, he resigned from the military
shortly after writing his first book on Gallipoli to dedicate himself to a career as a historian. He has been a
consultant to Maurice Shadbolt for Once on Chunuk Bair, taught military history at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and led field trips to the battlefields of Europe.
His publications include Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story (shortlisted for the Watties New Zealand Book of the Year 1984) and The Anzac Experience: New Zealand, Australia and Empire in the First World War (shortlisted for the Templer Medal 2005, Finalist in History, Montana New Zealand Book Awards 2005).
The Uses and Abuses of History: Margaret MacMillan
8 March 10.45am at Embassy Theatre
Tickets $18
The Great Adventure Ends: Christopher Pugsley
12 March 1.45pm at Embassy Theatre
Tickets $18
Ends