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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
Comprehensive and fascinating and more than a little depressing. Will certainly be photocopying chapters and bibliographic citations for my own research.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Good and thorough look of the history of Prussia. Easy to read, lots of info, don't be afraid to skim over some of the (to you) less interesting parts given how much info is in this book
Extremely well researched and in-depth discovery of the systemic shifts within the Prussian Empire from the 1500s - 1947. You are given a whole picture of what life, society, military systems, religious ideas and other significant areas of day to day life looked like for people throughout the Empire.
Prussia was an unlikely candidate to become a great power. Yet from the economically unpromising Brandenberg region, Prussia eventually established itself as a European power, ultimately coalescing the various states of Germany into a single, powerful nation. The question of how this took place is at the heart of Christopher Clark's book, a valuable survey of the three centuries of Prussia's rise, dominance, and eventual dissolution after World War II. It is a very Carlylean tale in his telling, giving much of the credit for the success Prussia enjoyed to its leadership, particularly the remarkably capable series of rulers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Together they used a combination of careful alliances, agreements, and marriages to expand their holdings, to the point where they dominated northern Germany by the early 19th century. The country which subsequently emerged was in many respects "Prussia plus," with Prussian institutions doubling in some instances as the main organ of government for all of Germany. Though this changed after World War I, the loss of the kaiser -- the dominant figure in the Prussian constitution -- left a hole that was largely unfilled until Adolf Hitler's rise to power during the Great Depression.
Clark's book describes all of this in an assured and well-sourced narrative that surveys the broader social and cultural context for Prussia's emergence. It is by far the best account of Prussia's modern history, one that is unlikely to be bettered for the foreseeable future. For anyone seeking a useful overview for anyone interested in learning about the emergence and collapse of this vanished kingdom and European power, this is the book to read.
Clark's book describes all of this in an assured and well-sourced narrative that surveys the broader social and cultural context for Prussia's emergence. It is by far the best account of Prussia's modern history, one that is unlikely to be bettered for the foreseeable future. For anyone seeking a useful overview for anyone interested in learning about the emergence and collapse of this vanished kingdom and European power, this is the book to read.
challenging
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Monarchy is stupidity and absolute monarchy is absolutely stupid to butcher a phrase. Nation building is always a messy business, anybody who's read up on early American government realizes that. In the case of the Prussians, the tendency of one powerful individual with control over the military seemed baked into their government and any attempts at liberalization were never really very successful. It's a bit surprising over roughly a 200 year period how few leaders the Prussians had at their peak. I'm sure this didn't help on top of the radical changes in governing style for every new ruler.
The cultural and religious aspects of the book are interesting, but are overshadowed by the military and political coverage. While a bit long-winded, it's a nice look at what a strongman government looks like from an evolutionary point of view.
The cultural and religious aspects of the book are interesting, but are overshadowed by the military and political coverage. While a bit long-winded, it's a nice look at what a strongman government looks like from an evolutionary point of view.