Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman Behind the Making of On War 1st Edition

by Vanya Eftimova Bellinger (Author)

7 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0190225438

ISBN-10: 0190225432

Why is ISBN important?

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Share <Embed>

Condition: Used - Good

In Stock. Sold by ThriftBooks - Squared

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

17 Used from $9.42

+ $0.00 shipping

Deliver to Finland

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

Sold by New Life Depot and Fulfilled by Amazon.

This item ships to Finland. Want it Wednesday, Feb. 19? Order within and choose AmazonGlobal Priority Shipping at checkout. Learn more

List Price: $31.95
Save: $4.26 (13%)

10 New from $27.69

+ $7.98 shipping

Deliver to Finland

More Buying Choices

10 New from $27.69 17 Used from $9.42

27 used & new from $9.42

See All Buying Options

For generations, among those who revere the work of Carl von Clausewitz, the role of his beloved wife, née Marie von Brühl, in shaping his seminal work on military theory has been a subject of intense speculation. It seems certain that without her On War would never have been published. But as historian and Clausewitz scholar Vanya Eftimova Bellinger establishes in this ground-breaking biography of the "other" Clausewitz, Marie was far more than merely a supportive wife who facilitated her husband's legacy.

Marie's 1810 marriage to von Clausewitz did not make sense by most accounts (least of all to her mother). She was a wealthy, cultured, and politically engaged young woman; he was a minor Prussian officer. But the bond between Marie and Claus was forged by love, a deep sense of trust, and a meeting of the minds over common interests. A newly discovered archive of correspondence reveals the extent of Marie's influence on her husband, beginning with the very early days of the courtship and lasting until his premature death. The two came to a "collaborative opinion" on many topics, from the moral implications of war to the emotional constitution of true leadership. Marie's involvement, too, adds insight about the role of class and gender relations in a time when women were excluded from politics-the perspective of a spouse and caretaker on the home-front, observing the physical and emotional effects of combat.

The issues that Marie von Clausewitz raised about the hardships of war - such as the social isolation and treatment of veterans, and the use of violence to achieve political and economic rights - still resonate today. This biography sheds light on an extraordinary life and mind, offering the first comprehensive and compelling look at the woman behind the composition of On War.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bellinger paints a vivid portrait of a capable, politically savvy woman who was no everyday helpmate, but a meticulous writer, thinker and editor determined to ensure her late husband attained the proper recognition denied to him during his life. Through Marie's capable direction as an editor, her husband's work remains an influential study of the nature of organized violence and still dominates modern foreign policy and conflict resolution." --Military History Magazine

"Vanya Eftimova Bellinger's book is about Marie, but she wisely focuses on the couple's life together... Bellinger weaves their story into the story of Prussia itself and connects concepts that would later appear in On War with events that the couple experienced and witnessed."-- B.A.Friedman, The Strategy Bridge

About the Author

Vanya Eftimova Bellinger currently teaches at US Army War College.

Vanya Eftimova Bellinger is a graduate of Norwich University's Master in Arts Program in Military History. She received her B.A. in Journalism from the Sofia University. Ms.Bellinger completed a journalism fellowship at the Free University of Berlin and has worked as international correspondent for more than fifteen years.

Hardcover: 312 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (November 2, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0190225432
ISBN-13: 978-0190225438
Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 1 x 6.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Customer Reviews: 6 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,288,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1305 in Historical Germany Biographies
- #3455 in Military History (Books)
- #6821 in Women in History

Would you like to tell us about a lower price?
If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support?

Be the first video

Your name here

Customer reviews

5 star		72%
4 star		28%
3 star 0% (0%)		0%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

6 customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Balint D. Szoke

Great Biography, and Look at a Thoroughly Modern Couple

May 14, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Quite a good book. I enjoyed the look it gave into the lives of a thoroughly modern couple, who were partners not just in marriage but intellectually as well.
Based on newly discovered letters between the two of them, which were kept by the family for centuries, they reveal the character of both Carl and Marie and paint a fascinating picture of life during the Napoleonic wars. Above all, I like how Bellinger ties in the gradual conception of On War, and how their lives influenced the writing of Clausewitz's masterpiece.
In addition, she does a fantastic job of capturing their personalities, quirks, misunderstandings, and flaws. In the end they don't come across as idealized characters but real people.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Comment

J. Pange

A must read for military officers and historians

September 16, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is an excellent book by a truly renown Clausewitz expert. Professor Eftimova Bellinger's exceptional writing finally sheds light on someone deserving of credit for the genius of On War, Marie von Clausewitz. This is a beautifully crafted, insightful work of history that provides a unique view of the life of Carl and Marie.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Comment

Pres.Com

Incredible story that needs to be told to many audiences!

August 2, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I applaud the author for her dedication, hard work and passion to complete this great tribute to an amazing lady! If it wasn't for Marie, there wouldn't be an "On War" book. The book that was used by our leaders to win wars! She deserves this recognition for her involvement in both the development and the completion of the book. It's the personal stories that you will never forget and the strength they had to get through and push through the darkest moments. Historians will love the details! PBS or the History Ch. should do a movie about this book!

Helpful

Comment

Ben

Excellent

December 3, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book does a superb job integrating Carl and Marie's correspondence with the wider historical context. I highly recommend it.

Helpful

Comment

RKerr

Provides the "Rest of the Story"

May 2, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

No book to date does a better job painting the whole picture of the context in which On War was written.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Comment

Lauralee

Good Biography!

October 19, 2015

Format: Hardcover

Carl von Clausewitz was a Prussian general known for his unfinished work On War. It was his wife Marie von Clausewitz who edited his works and had them published. Yet despite this fact, Marie von Clausewitz’s accomplishments had on this has been glimpsed over and her influence has been greatly undermined. In this first biography of Marie von Clausewitz, Marie has been given the spotlight. This book not only discusses her accomplishments but it also showed how she has helped influenced Carl’s work, On War.

Marie von Clausewitz was the daughter of a nobleman and was a member of the royal court where she served as lady-in-waiting. When Marie married Carl von Clausewitz, she had actually married down. Carl was not of noble blood and he was an officer in the Prussian army. Yet after two years of flirtation and after much time of consideration, Marie agreed to marry him. It would be years until they finally married, but when they did it was a happy one. The reason that Marie chose to marry him was because he treated her as an equal intellectually. He let her be actively involved in politics. Marie was an intellectual and was very much allowed to share her views of politics. She also accompanied her husband to the battlefield. It was through these ideas and experiences that helped influence Carl’s unfinished work, On War.

Overall, this biography gives us a different perspective of Marie von Clausewitz, who has often been in the background to many historians. In fact I did not really know much about Marie, I have only heard of Carl von Clausewitz and his classic work, On War. Reading this biography was an eye-opener. It showed us how influential Marie was on his works and her accomplishments. It also showed us the deep respect Marie and Carl had for each other. They loved each other's intellect, and even discussed political views they had at the time. This book is not only a good biography, but I also thought it gave a comprehensive look at the politics and social issues of Germany during their era. While this book is comprehensive to the average reader, it is very dry. I found the book writing style to be dull at times, so occasionally I stopped reading this biography and started reading another book and then come back to it later on. Still, I find this book to be a great tribute to a fascinating woman, and I hope that there will be more biographies of this subject. Marie von Clausewitz is just as important as Carl von Clausewitz, and hopefully history will give her the credit she deserves.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

Comment

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	Amazon Drive Cloud storage from Amazon	6pm Score deals on fashion brands	AbeBooks Books, art & collectibles	ACX Audiobook Publishing Made Easy

Alexa Actionable Analytics for the Web	Sell on Amazon Start a Selling Account	Amazon Business Everything For Your Business	AmazonGlobal Ship Orders Internationally	Home Services Handpicked Pros Happiness Guarantee	Amazon Ignite Sell your original Digital Educational Resources

Amazon Rapids Fun stories for kids on the go	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services	Audible Listen to Books & Original Audio Performances	Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Box Office Mojo Find Movie Box Office Data	ComiXology Thousands of Digital Comics

CreateSpace Indie Print Publishing Made Easy	DPReview Digital Photography	East Dane Designer Men's Fashion	Fabric Sewing, Quilting & Knitting	Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities

IMDbPro Get Info Entertainment Professionals Need	Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital Publishing Made Easy	Prime Video Direct Video Distribution Made Easy	Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Woot! Deals and Shenanigans	Zappos Shoes & Clothing

Ring Smart Home Security Systems	eero WiFi Stream 4K Video in Every Room	Neighbors App Real-Time Crime & Safety Alerts	Subscribe with Amazon Discover & try subscription services	PillPack Pharmacy Simplified	Amazon Second Chance Pass it on, trade it in, give it a second life

Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman Behind the Making of On War 1st Edition