Characters
Last Reviewed on June 19, 2019, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 158
As The Pity of War is a work of nonfiction, there are no "characters," per se. In the book, Niall Ferguson discusses the First World War and its effects in ways that are seen as unconventional, and in ways that raise questions about our understanding of the Great War.
Download The Pity of War Study Guide
Important figures, or "characters", one will encounter in this history are: Austrian Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand and his assassin, Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip, whose encounter ignited the war; leaders of the newly formed German Confederation such as Kaiser Wilhelm II and Otto Von Bismarck; Georges Clemenceau, David Lloyd George, Vittorio Orlando, and Woodrow Wilson who led the charge for peace. The amount of players in the First World War is unending.
One could consider Ferguson himself a character in this work, as he explains the events of his childhood that sparked his interest in history and the First World War, particularly the memorial on the grounds of his school.
Unlock This Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now.
- 30,000+ book summaries
- 20% study tools discount
- Ad-free content
- PDF downloads
- 300,000+ answers
- 5-star customer support
Already a member? Log in here.