The Order of the Day

A gripping tale of failed diplomacy and the catastrophic momentum that led to World War II Winner of the 2017 Prix Goncourt, Éric Vuillard's novel The Order of the Day offers a mesmerising account of the pivotal meetings between European powers in the run-up to World War Two. Through a series of vignettes, Vuillard reveals the broken relationships and political machinations that set the stage for war. German industrialists gather to lend their support to Adolf Hitler, while the Austrian Chancellor realises too late that he has wandered into a trap. Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain bid farewell to Joachim von Ribbentrop, the future Foreign Minister in the Nazi government, over a tense luncheon. Suffused with dramatic tension, The Order of the Day is an unforgettable novel that illuminates how the actions of a few powerful men brought the world to the brink of war. Vuillard's gripping prose and keen eye for historical detail make this a must-read for fans of historical fiction and political thrillers alike.