From the acclaimed author of The Jungle: The first in a Pulitzer Prize–winning historical saga about the son of an American arms dealer during WWI. Lanning “Lanny” Budd spends his first thirteen years in Europe, living at the center of his mother’s glamourous circle of friends on the French Riviera. In 1913, he enters a prestigious Swiss boarding school and befriends Rick, an English boy, and … Rick, an English boy, and Kurt, a German. The three schoolmates are privileged, happy, and precocious—but their world is about to come to an abrupt and violent end.
When the gathering storm clouds of war finally burst, raining chaos and death over the continent, Lanny must put the innocence of youth behind him; his language skills and talent for decoding messages are in high demand. At his father’s side, he meets many important political and military figures, learns about the myriad causes of the conflict, and closely follows the First World War’s progress. When the bloody hostilities eventually conclude, Lanny joins the Paris Peace Conference as the assistant to a geographer asked by President Woodrow Wilson to redraw the map of Europe.
Perfect for fans of The Winds of War, World’s End is the magnificent opening chapter of a monumental series that brings the first half of the twentieth century to vivid life. A thrilling mix of history, adventure, and romance, the Lanny Budd Novels are a testament to the breathtaking scope of Upton Sinclair’s vision and his singular talents as a storyteller.
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I enjoy a well written novel that reflects the era in which it is written. Sinclair is quite the novelist and it is fascinating to read something that reflects the standards and mores of the time.
As someone who is a total nerd about both World Wars, I have been meaning to tackle the Lanny Budd series of historical novels since first learning about them perhaps five years ago. [It is a shame they are now so forgotten, especially since the third book of the series won author Upton Sinclair (1878-1968) a Pulitzer Prize.]
Written between 1940-53, Sinclair’s novels use the life of Lanny Budd to tell the sequential history of Europe and America in the first half of the 20th century. So, now I have completed the first of 11 books. And it is nothing short of a masterpiece! Readable, compelling, full of complex and interesting characters, and deeply informative about both history and politics. In fact, much of it seems applicable to current events.
WORLD’S END begins in 1914 when Lanny Budd is 14– the son of a wealthy, American arms manufacturer, Robbie Budd, and a beautiful French woman who goes by the nickname Beauty. Though his parents don’t live together, Lanny remains a child of privilege, growing up in Southern France amid cosmopolitan members of the elite class, who are themselves primarily focused on, travel, social activities and the arts.
Attending the best schools, Lanny is popular, excels at his studies, and forms close friendships with fellow students Rick (British) and Kurt (German), who later wind up on opposites sides of the coming World War. Fiercely loyal, honest, intelligent, and curious — Lanny quickly becomes someone for us to both love and admire. Like me, you will no doubt identify with him, as I’m sure the author intended. Because Lanny, aside from being central to the story, also serves as the character who winds up asking the difficult questions and examining contradictions, when trying to figure out what is right in an increasingly complex world.
Sinclair skillfully presents a vivid picture of pre-war Europe — where class served as the most important organizing principle of society. One did not socialize outside one’s class, let alone contemplate marriage outside. Class opened doors OR limited opportunities. Lower classes maintained deep respect for those they perceived as higher up. Through the unfolding story of the Budd family and their friends, Sinclair then examines how World War I destroyed this structure, leaving countries open to new governments, social pressures, and political movements in the post-war era. That is QUITE a tall order, but honestly, Sinclair masters it!
NOTE: Known as a American muckraker (his popular novel, THE JUNGLE, was considered instrumental to the passage of both the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act) and activist, understand going in that Sinclair approaches history with a liberal bias. Which means committed Capitalists don’t necessarily come off very well in this novel.
World’s End is a long book (750 pages)— carrying us (as Lanny comes of age) through both the war and the lengthy peace process that followed in Paris, with President Woodrow Wilson, French Prime Minister George Clemenceau and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George leading the negotiations. Somehow, because of his position of privilege, Lanny always manages to be close to the key “dealmakers” who, in turn, expose him to the wide range of competing political viewpoints, economic imperatives, and sometimes desperate actions of the period.
I am truly in awe of the accomplishment of this book. And I WILL go on to read more Lanny Budd books.
The Lanny Budd series is an excellent view into history written with interesting characters and insight. Thoroughly enjoyed this entire series.
A good story that also gives a clear picture of life in Europe and the US in the 1920s.
I had never herd of the Lanny Budd novels, which I understand had been out of print before resurfacing recently in electronic format. I was drawn right into the story of the young man born at the start of the 20th century, who experiences all of its milestone events. The books are very densely written, but for a history buff such as myself, they provide all manner of interesting insights. I have just finished the second book, and am starting on the third. Highly recommended!
4 stars due to length. seemed twice as long as any others in the series.
This author, though not for everyone I find intresting to read as his characters are always making the best out of the problems that are happening in his life.
Lanny Budd has unconventional relatives, particularly his mother. His uncle is Communist. His father is an arms dealer.
Lanny lives in France, and travels to Germany, London, and the United States.
Upton Sinclair weaves real persons into this story set in the years before and during World War I. He develops his characters wonderfully well, layer by later. Well worth reading!
Now, as a senior citizen, I have time to read. As a young person, I read the first couple of books of the Lanny Budd series in the 1970’s. I now have collected the whole series on my Kindle and am enjoying the first book again as I did years ago. Much of the first book (as all of them probably), is written with political viewpoint. Whether I agree or not with the political viewpoints expressed, the author is delightfully talking about what could have been real people in the day and their lives. I am almost done with the first book, World’s End and will begin the next one as soon as I am able. Thanks for asking for my input.
Great research! Fantastic for history buffs
Am plowing my way through all the Lanny Budd series by Upton Sinclair which covers the period of World Wars I and II (1905ish to 1950). Fascinating insights into major players and emergence of political factions that led to Fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany and Communism in Russia. The series contains more than 7,000 pages so it’s an investment but Sinclair brings this period of world-changing history to life and even won a Pulitzer for his efforts. I’ve read both fiction and non-fiction about this period but somehow didn’t know that Adolf Hitler’s real name was Shicklgruber. I highly recommend this whole series.
Full of political intrigue, but tiring
Had never read any of this series by Upton Sinclair. Enjoyed this book. Liked the character development, and the feeling of being in the period of time of the book. Did get a little plodding at times, but that is common with authors from this period. And Sinclair is know for being a bit preachy.
I love this book and will read the rest of the series.