There is a great deal of political instability in Europe in 1914. When Betsy arrives in London, in July, it is palpable. Betsy loves London, and in short order has joined a crowd of young people (“the Crew”) that remind her of her own Crowd at home. Comfortable, enjoying London’s urban pleasures, Betsy is shocked when suddenly there is only talk of war.

Austria-Hungary has just declared war on Serbia, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Betsy hears that Germany will soon join as an ally of Austria. Along with Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers), they will fight against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan and the United States (the Allied Powers) in what will be referred to as the Great War, and later, World War I. The war will see massive amounts of carnage and destruction due to newly developed military technologies. Following four years of war, the Allied Powers would claim defeat, but only at the expense of the lives of more than 16 million soldiers and civilians. In the modern digital age, of course, weaponry is even more potentially lethal, especially on a mass scale.

Almost overnight, life in London takes on a very different tenor. Recrreational expeditions are neither planned nor discussed. The city is full of soldiers, and American citizens aiming to exit Europe. Betsy feels lucky to be witnessing history first-hand. Her friends suggest that she head home, but she is reluctant to leave the excitement, the turmoil, even the singing in the streets. For this, Betsy thinks, “is what the start of a war looks like!” (p. 307, Harper Trophy paperback edition, 1996)

But Betsy’s father summons her home. And getting home is easier said than done. It seems every passage to America is fully booked. With good fortune, she runs into the same Mr. Brown who had assisted her with travel logistics in the early portion of her trip. (When she learns his full name, he turns out to be a well-known power broker about whom Betsy had been reading in the papers for years!) With equally good fortune, she sees a message from Joe to her in the newspaper’s Agony Column, asking her to return home. She cables him her ocean liner’s return date and location, and asks him to pick her up there. The great war is on, but Betsy and Joe’s war is over (p. 321, Harper Trophy paperback edition, 1996), and they will reunite, marry, and embark on their life together in Betsy’s Wedding.

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For more on the start of World War I, see: https://www.history.com/articles/world-war-i-history