This is the most important single volume on Frederick and his reign (1740-86) to be published since the First World War. It now appears in English for the first time, in a slightly abbreviated version of the German original. It is not a conventional biography: rather, it is a series of studies of the central aspects of the reign, each with new and exciting perceptions to offer, which, taken together, make a major contribution to our understanding of Prussia, Europe and the Enlightenment in the second half of the eighteenth century.
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"a profound and wise book" T. C. W. Blanning, Bulletin of the German Historical Institute
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German
Original Language: German
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An ample Introduction to Frederick the Great,
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This review is from: Frederick the Great (Paperback)
Three warnings about this book: 1.) It is an abbreviated translation of the 1983 work in German and leaves out key Chapters, for example on Frederick's place in history, and Frederick and his contemporaries. 2.) Worse, it leaves out the Critical Apparatus, both Footnotes and Bibliography, of the German Edition completely, substituting this with a "Further Reading" List. 3.) It does not concentrate enoughm in my opinion, on the Military side of Frederick the Great. If you are expecting, or interested in this, seek out Christopher Duffy's work instead. These reservations aside, the book provides an ample introduction to the remarkable life of Frederick the Great and Prussia. Not much new on Frederick's youth, but the discussion of his Court is of interest, particularly the presumed reason why he produced no heir. Discussion of the Army, the Officer Corps and the Middle Classes are also good. Not much is mentioned about the lot of the Prussian Peasantry, which was of course dismal. Prussia's relations with its neighbors, Austria and Russia are also covered amply. A final Chapter on Frederick as "Philosopher king" will surely be of interest. As a whole, this book is well researched and written, and is a good introduction, though it would have been much more useful in its unabridged form. What is really needed is a new thorough scholarly Biography.
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