Frederick the Great
by Nancy Mitford
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Description
The Prussian king Frederick II is today best remembered for successfully defending his tiny country against the three great European powers of France, Austria, and Russia during the Seven Years' War. But in his youth, tormented by a spectacularly cruel and dyspeptic father, the future military genius was drawn to the flute and French poetry, and throughout his long life counted nothing more important than the company of good friends and great wits. This was especially evident in his show more longstanding, loving, and vexing relationship with Voltaire. An absolute ruler who was allergic to pomp, a non-hunter who wore no spurs, a reformer of great zeal who maintained complete freedom of the press and religion and cleaned up his country's courts, a fiscal conservative and patron of the arts, the builder of the rococo palace Sans Souci and improver of the farmers' lot, maddening to his rivals but beloved by nearly everyone he met, Frederick was--notwithstanding a penchant for merciless teasing--arguably the most humane of enlightened despots. In "Frederick the Great," a richly entertaining biography of one of the eighteenth century's most fascinating figures, the trademark wit of the author of "Love in a Cold Climate "finds its ideal subject. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Illuminating record of the life of one of the most interesting monarchs of European history. I love this book for Mitford's engaging prose and the musicality of Frederick II. Sans Souci is at the center of this book and his life - it is fascinating to compare to other great lives.
A short work for such a long and significant life, but adorned with many interesting illustrations and very readable.
What a boring book.
Federico di Hohenzollern conobbe in vita sua ben pochi momenti di tranquillità. L'infanzia trascorse cupa e faticosa, dominata da un padre collerico e autoritario, beone e volgare, convinto di dover fare un uomo di quel suo figliolo pallido e gentile. Federico invece passava il tempo a studiare il latino e a imparare il flauto, non conosceva quasi il tedesco, perchè con la madre e i fratelli parlava in francese. L'autrice racconta le vicende della Guerra dei Sette Anni che il re di Prussia giunse quasi a perdere.
Jul 16, 2014 (Edited)Italian
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Author Information
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Series
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Frederick the Great
- Original title
- Frederick the Great
- Alternate titles
- Friedrich der Große; Federico il grande
- Original publication date
- 1970
- People/Characters
- Frederick the Great, King of Prussia; Frederick William I, King of Prussia; Henry of Prussia, Prince; Maria Theresa; Voltaire (Franç | ois-Marie Arouet); Wilhelmine, Princess of Prussia
- Important places
- Prussia; Silesia, Germany
- Important events*
- 1712 - 1786
- Epigraph
- Denn was ging uns Prussen an?
Es war die Persönlichkeit des grossen Königs,
Die auf alle Gemüter wirkte. (Goethe) - Dedication
- Dedicated to my sister Diana
- First words
- Frederick the Great was born on 24 January 1712, the year of Denain, Louis XIV's final and victorious battle in the War of the Spanish Succession; when he died, seventy-four years later, people were discussing Marie Antoinett... (show all)e's diamond necklace.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Twenty years later, Napoleon stood by his coffin. 'Hats off, gentlemen - if he were still alive we should not be here.'
- Original language
- English UK
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 943.053092 — History & geography History of Europe Central Europe: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech, Poland, Hungary Historical periods of Germany Rise of Prussia 1705-89 1740-42
- LCC
- DD404 .M57 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Germany History of Germany Prussia History
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 415
- Popularity
- 74,972
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (3.66)
- Languages
- 5 — Dutch, English, German, Italian, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 4
