A Doctor in History from the University of Oxford, where she now lectures in International History. She is a member of the Royal Society of Literature and her published works include The War that Ended Peace. The Road to 1914, named as one of the best books of the year by The New York Times. In 2006 she was invested as an Official of the Order of Canada. Her books have received several prizes, including the 2002 Samuel Johnson Prize and the PEN Hessel-Titman Prize.