Monthly Archives: October 2012

St John’s Research Centre Annual Lecture: ‘Can we ever understand the outbreak of World War One?’

The Annual Research Centre Lecture on 25 October 2012 at 5pm in the Kendrew Quad Cafe will be given by Professor Margaret MacMillan, the Warden of St Antony’s College, Oxford. The title of the lecture is ‘Can we ever understand the outbreak of World War One?’

It has been estimated that there are over 30,000 works in English alone on the outbreak of World War One yet there is still no consensus on why it started or who or what was to blame. Perhaps we should stop looking to assign blame and ask rather what were they thinking? This lecture examines the assumptions and attitudes of those who had to make the key decisions in those few weeks in the summer of 1914.

The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception in 20 St Giles to which you are cordially invited.

The lecture is open to everyone. If any alumni would like to attend, please email the alumni office in advance.