{"product_id":"2940012331601","title":"The Downfall","description":"The story is set against the background of the series of political and military events that ended the reign of Napoléon III and the Second Empire in 1870, in particular the Franco-Prussian War, the Battle of Sedan and the Paris Commune.\u003cbr\u003eThe novel starts in the summer of 1870 when, after serious diplomatic tensions, France has declared war on Prussia (the nucleus of Germany, which was then emerging as one nation out of a number of disparate cities, regions and principalities). The French hoped to achieve a quick military victory by marching their armies east, straight to Berlin. Instead, the Prussian armies crossed the Rhine before the French, beat the French Rhine army into retreat and penetrated further into France.\u003cbr\u003eThe main theme is the brutality of war for the common soldier and for the civilian population as it is hit by losses of family and friends and by economic hardship. It is written in three parts.","brand":"Robin Michell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47069216801008,"sku":"2940012331601","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940012331601_p0.jpg?v=1763567343","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940012331601","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}