1163 Frederick the Great: A Biography, by Ludwig Reiners translated and adapted from the German by Lawrence P. R. Wilson (read 15 May 1972) This is an adequate biography. I find it illustrative of my neglect of the 18th century that I have never before paid much attention to Frederick the Great. He was born Jan 24, 1712. His father died May 31, 1740. Frederick early got into the War of the Austrian Succession, and of course from 1756 to 1763 there was the Seven Years War. He died Aug 15, 1786. An extraordinary life and king. I see him as a predecessor of German national arrogance. But I thoroughly enjoyed the book. [On June 4, 1987 I read another Frederick biography: Frederick the Great: The Magnificent Enigma, by Robert B. Asprey.] ( )