"Scott's serene command of an enormous array of facts and remarkable skill at integrating them into a smooth, readable, and convincing narrative and analysis make the work indispensable for mature scholars and students alike."Paul W. Schroeder, Professor of History and Political Science (emeritus), University of Illinois "This happy marriage of lucid narrative and penetrating analysis has created a modern classic."Tim Blanning, Professor of Modern European History, University of Cambridge "...a clear and interesting contribution not only to work on the history of European international relations but also to the theory that this subject is best approached in terms of a system..."This is a useful book that, within its particular parameters, is the best available."Jeremy Black, The Times Higher, February 24 2006