The Guns of Europe

A visit to Dresden's art gallery places young American John Scott between two visions of Europe: the peace suggested by Raphael's Sistine Madonna and the force embodied by a Prussian officer. His companion, William Anson, supplies lectures on art and confident judgments about military power. Joseph Alexander Altsheler builds a war adventure from this opening encounter, following John into the upheaval of the First World War.

Later, John joins English and American volunteers serving France, accepting a place in the ranks alongside Carstairs and Wharton. Their friendly national rivalry gives way to danger as aircraft hover above the lines and a huge German gun opens fire. Published in 1915 and introduced as the first of three connected novels, the book draws on the author's observations of mobilization in Europe. It offers readers an early fictional response to the conflict, with aerial adventure, comradeship and battlefield technology close together.