“The Trigger: The Hunt for Gavrilo Princip - the Assassin who Brought the World to War” (2015) by Tim Butcher

BOOK: “The Trigger: The Hunt for Gavrilo Princip - the Assassin who Brought the World to War” (2015) by Tim Butcher

On Thursday 7th July we cycled to Devils Dyke for a change of venue.  

On another summer's day in 1914, a teenage assassin named Gavrilo Princip fired not just the opening shots of the First World War but the starting gun for modern history, when he killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. 

Despite his momentous action, Princip is now all but airbrushed out of the history of the region - interesting how the role of certain players can be celebrated or ignored according to the prevailing narrative in which the history is written.

Princip’s primary motivation was to rid his land of the occupying Habsburgs who, like the Turks before them, presided over an almost feudal system that perpetuated the grinding poverty of his own family and which was shared by most from the three major communities in Bosnia: the Orthodox Serbs, the mainly Catholic Croats and the Muslim Bosniaks.

Good for.. WW1, twentieth century European history, travel writing, former Yugoslavia, - lots to enjoy and appreciate in "The Trigger: Hunting the Assassin Who Brought the World to War”. 

It’s taut, well written, very atmospheric, engaging, provocative and fascinating.

One of the most extraordinary facts we discovered was the numberplate of Archduke Ferdinand’s car was A111118. 

ROBIN: 7/10

HAMISH: 9/10

TRISTAN: 8/10

NIGEL: 9/10

KEITH: 7/10

NICK : 8/10

MUSIC: Hank Williams “Come September” 

Simple honky tonk songs where Hank’s vulnerability and humanity shine through.  His tales of love and loss explain his widespread appeal and longevity.  Right up there with the very best roots music - indeed the very best music ever made.  Each song could be turned into a short story.  Everyone needs a bit of Hank in their tank.

FILM: “Sunshine” (2007) directed by Danny Boyle

We like Danny Boyle.  We like Science Fiction.  We liked the cast of this film and the thoughtful premise.  Did the studio insist on a more dramatic, tense final act?  Either way it was a misstep and undermined a lot of the set up.  And, as many have also stated, the science simply doesn’t stack up.

ENDORSE IT

Here's what we're endorsing at the moment...

Nigel: Skin Lane by Neil Bartlett (book)

Robin: Natural History Museum in NYC

Hamish: Tour de France

Nick: Brexit

Tristan: Remain

Keith: Sunsets at Devils Dyke...

 We're back together again in September.