World's End

World's End is the first in an eleven book series written by Upton Sinclair in 1940. The Protagonist is Lanny Budd, the American son of a millionaire munitions salesman, Robbie Budd. - Uptonsinclairinstitute.com Lanny is 13 years old when we meet him in World's End. He is a precocious teenager living an idyllic life on the Riviera. Because of his father's visits to Europe on business, Lanny is privileged to meet many political and military figures to whom his father sells his munitions. Lanny also learns to decode messages at the beginning of the First World War and thus from this humble task he begins a career as a budding diplomat. Through his mother, Beauty Budd, he is privy to the sophisticated and genteel society in Europe. Lanny meets many influential and powerful figures as the son of two such parents in their business and social circles. World's End is a must read for those interested in World History from 1913-1919. Primarily set in Europe as World War one begins with the assassination of the Arch Duke and future heir to the throne of the Austrian Empire, by a deranged Serbian. Germany aligns with Austria when the Austrians declare war on the Serbians. France aligned with Russia and soon with the British. Germany declares war on the French and soon thereafter the English. Virtually the entire continent is at war when fighting begins in 1914.