The Kaiser and His Times
by Michael Balfour
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What were the consequences for Germany, and the world, that William II was Kaiser at the onset of the 'Great War'? In The Kaiser and His Times (first published in 1964), Michael Balfour analyzes the social, constitutional, and economic forces at work in imperial Germany, and sets the complex and disputed character of the Kaiser, who occupied such a central position in the three decades before 1918, in the context of his family background and the history of Germany. '[Balfour] has borne in show more mind the Kaiser's own request to the head of his military Secretariat - 'Not dry reports only, please, but now and then a funny story.' The circumstances that allowed to Kaiser to live as if 'The greater part of his life... was illusion' would make comic reading if the results had not been so tragic...' Kirkus Review show lessTags
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Member Reviews
2236 The Kaiser and His Times, by Michael Balfour (read 14 Oct 1989) This is a very literate book on Wilhelm II, who was born in Berlin on 27 Jan 1859 and died at 11:30 A.M. on June 4, 1941, at Doorn, Holland. The book tells of exciting times, though all seemed very familiar. But there were no insights. I cannot say I view the Kaiser any differently now than I did before I read the book. The events in 1918 maybe were not as familiar as I thought--the chaotic events leading to the Kaiser's trip to Holland. Most interesting.
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Author Information
6 Works 130 Members
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Kaiser and His Times
- Original title
- The Kaiser and his times
- Original publication date
- 1964
- People/Characters
- Wilhelm II, German Kaiser and King of Prussia
- Important places
- Germany
- Important events
- World War I
- First words*
- La storia di una nazione si differenzia da quella di altre per particolari accadimenti: è questa una verità riconosciuta con la stessa facilitàacon cui viene continuamente dimenticata.
- Last words*
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Fino a che punto può essere condannato il Kaiser Guglielmo, tenendo appunto conto di tutte le influenze che hanno contribuito a renderlo l'uomo che era? L'ultima parola sembra essere quella del funzionario di corte russo che, sulla piattaforma della stazione di Berlino, disse: Ça explique ma ça n'excuse pas.
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 943.0840924 — History & geography History of Europe Central Europe: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech, Poland, Hungary Historical periods of Germany Germany 1866- Frederick 1888; William II 1888-1918; Great war 1914-19 and downfall of empire
- LCC
- DD229 .B26 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Germany History of Germany History By period Modern, 1519- 19th-20th centuries New Empire, 1871-1918
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 90
- Popularity
- 356,416
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.70)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 7
