Bismark - The Man and the Statesman [Import] [Hardcover]

A. J. P. Taylor (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Hamish Hamilton; First American Edition edition (1955)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0241900603
• ISBN-13: 978-0241900604
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,364,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A First Rate Classic Historical Biography, June 19, 2000

By 

Bill Perez (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bismarck: The Man and Statesman (Mass Market Paperback)

A.J.P. Taylor adheres to his typically excellent style and delivers this keen critical biography of the man who made modern Europe. If you expect fawning portraits, or gossip-laden scandal, stay clear of Taylor--but at the same time do not fear dry recitation of dates and events. Taylor is a master of his subject matter and knows precisely which details advance his critical wit. No distractions, no tangents, no sermons--Bismarck's political career is the focus, and the ultimate aim is to assess his aims, identify both his failures and successes, and to explain their shape as works springing from the flawed mind of a political genius. As usual with Taylor, little is slack is given to either Bismarck or his adversaries, and each parties' motives are cynically weighed and found contradictory, petty or blind. And, also per usual, Taylor is quick to reveal the absurd quirks of the political elite, and how they impinged on the course of events. Taylor provides an excellent, London-Underground-styled map to the roiling tangle of scheme and intrigue characteristic of nineteenth-century European diplomacy, charts Bismarck's course through it, and deftly shows how its fundamental structure was reformulated by him. Taylor has sometimes been accused of being anti-German, and, in rare moments, he seems to imply the existence of deep flaws in the "national character" of Germany throughout history. But here I was surprised to find Taylor asserting the presence of an instinctive commitment to peace, stability and tranquility in Germany's greatest statesman. This book is essential to an understanding of Germany, Europe and both World Wars. As well as, of course, Otto Von Bismarck.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars taylor's bismarck, February 17, 2003

By 

Hanael Bainchi (Somers, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bismarck: The Man and Statesman (Mass Market Paperback)

Arrogant, confrontational, self-absorbed: one would be hard pressed to determine if these characteristics should be found in A. J. P. Taylor's Bismarck: The Man and the Statesman or if they should be in his autobiography. Moreover, it is curious that many other distinguishing characteristics of Taylor's Bismarck are in many ways reflections of Taylor himself. This parallel could even be extended one step further to claim that Taylor's assessment of Bismarck might be similar to the present assessment of Taylor; that is, both must be praised for their remarkable achievements but praised in such a way that they would be opposed to it.
Taylor, England's most flamboyant historian,# often broke the traditional bounds of the field. He brought history to television, radio and the newspapers. He closed the gap of the historical wait period by writing a history of the origins of War World II in 1961. His flashiness aside, he produced many historical masterpieces including Bismarck. In this work he goes beyond the face value of Bismarck's recorded statements and examines the actions, and subsequently his motives, to find the true character of this monumental figure. He develops the notion of a opportunistic and self-centered Bismarck as opposed to loyal servant of the king whose great foresight brought the unity of Germany.
One major theme of the book is chance. It is argued that it was stoke of luck that allowed Bismarck even enter the field of politics, the bad health of another deputy. Even his great foreign policy was based on providence. Repeatedly Taylor asserts that Bismarck had no plan, rather he would let events unfold and then act from there. Furthermore, when Bismarck intentionally carried a line of policy through it would normally backfire causing him more harm. Taylor remarks, the genius of Bismarck lie not in brilliant initiatives but in being able to recover from past blunders.
Closely related to the theme of chance is the notion that Bismarck had no enduring principles. His own greatness was the only value that he held to as he morphed from reactionary to liberal to conservative. He proudly boasted to the Reichstag "I have no fixed opinions... there are no eternal truths" (138). Beside his own will, the only other exception of complete devotion was his family. However, this might even be challenged. One the boldest claims of the book is that some of Bismarck's landmark achievements, unification and social reform, came as by-products for his bid to stay in power. Explicitly, his main motive for introducing bills was to split the Emperor and Reichstag and thus increase his power; and similarly his main motive for foreign policy was to split the Great Powers to increase Germany and subsequently his power.
In many respects it is a difficult task writing the biography of a man who is a deceptive diplomat. Bismarck's documents and speeches are overflowing with contradictions. It seems that Bismarck's policies stemmed from the hope of a desired outcome instead of personal convictions. Nonetheless, the historian has the difficult task of sifting through the political jargon to find the true motives of this complicated person. Taylor largely discredits Bismarck's talk of humble servitude towards the monarch and instead supports the Bismarck's claim of his own greatness. However, how can one claim certitude with a man who has changed his memoirs repeatedly, had no scruples in contradicting facts, and supported so many opposing principles? This is a contributing fact to the case that this debate will go on. As it does, Taylor's work will do much to help guide those who seek the motives and beliefs or the real Bismarck.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bismarck as only Taylor can write him, February 25, 2006

By 

An Historian (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bismarck: The Man and Statesman (Mass Market Paperback)

Taylor's thesis is not meant to be an all inclusive telling of Bismarck's life from beginning to end; rather it highlights the most important events which made him famous, often notorious. As with The Second World War, Taylor takes a controversial stance in presenting his topic in order to disclaim the common misperceptions of Bismarck as a warmonger and tyrant bent on German dominance. By using reliable first-hand sources, Taylor shows how Bismarck often opted to go against popular opinion to assure peace in Europe. While this may sound entirely contradictory to contemporary historical record, Taylor does show how every goal set and made by Bismarck was ultimately to his advantage.

Taylor's Bismarck is a concise look at arguably the most influential statesman in Germany if not the world. No noticeable bias is present in Taylor's portrayal of Bismarck as he shows strength and weakness, success and failure in equal portions. While it is not all inclusive and is written for an audience with a certain level of prior knowledge of 19th Century German history, Bismarck is well composed, easy to follow and educational.