Bismarck and modern Germany,

Men and Their Times

by William Norton Medlicott

This book re-examines the life of Germany's greatest modern statesman in the light of recently available evidence and criticism. How far was he responsible for the subsequent catastrophes of his country? The author surveys the whole ranhe of Bismarck's activities as ruler of Prussia and the German Empire, and shows that, while he did mould events and manipulate people in a remarkable way, he also displayed great adaptability within certain limits, so that he was both the product and the creator of the new German Reich.

Genres: History

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

A leading authority on modern diplomatic history, William Norton Medlicott was formerly Stevenson Professor of International History in the University of London.

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This history recounts the schemes and manipulations of the intelligent and driven Bismarck nation building on the European stage. These decades of the 19th century in my mind are so crowded with American history that things like "Kolding Affair" and the First Schleswig War seems exotic almost. Almost as impressive to me is to think this is an entry in the Men and Their Times series. Despite that rather sexist view in the title, has something changed that no longer major publishing houses can feed an abiding interesting the American public of history?

[René · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1965, this short biography feels outdated and lacking in details. While it acknowledges Bismarck's influence on German expansionism in the first half of the XXth Century, it fails to really explain why it may or may not really be the case. Bismarck can be seen as the father of Germany's reunification, sometimes on the back of its neighbors, and knowing more how he was able to achieve this despite serious regionalism will need to be searched somewhere else.