Historical and Political Writings

by Carl von Clausewitz, Peter Paret (Editor), Daniel Moran (Editor)

Carl von Clausewitz's major theoretical work, On War, has retained its freshness and relevance since it first appeared 160 years ago. Clausewitz was also a wide-ranging, innovative historian--his acerbic history of Prussia before 1806 became an underground classic long before it could be published--and a combative political essayist, whose observations on the affairs of Germany and Europe combine social egalitarianism with a nearly Bismarckian Realpolitik. In this companion volume to On War, the editors bring together Clausewitz's political writings and a selection of his historical works--material that is fascinating in its own right, important as a commentary on his theories of war, and a valuable source for understanding European ideas and attitudes during and after the Napoleonic era. None of these works has previously appeared in English, with one exception, which was published in a corrupt, censored text that has now been restored to its original form. The editors have contributed introductions for the historical and for the political parts of the volume, as well as brief introductions to the individual selections. Their analyses and the texts themselves reveal Clausewitz to be an exceptionally independent observer both of the past and of his own times, whose outlook is distinguished by an unideological pragmatism and a keen sense of the possibilities and shortcomings of state power.

Originally published in 1992.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Genres: History, Politics, Military Fiction

422 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 1992

About the author

Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz was a Prussian soldier, military historian and military theorist. He is most famous for his military treatise Vom Kriege, translated into English as On War.

Clausewitz has served in the Rhine campaign (1793–1794), when the Prussian army invaded France during the French revolution and in the Napoleonic Wars from 1806 to 1815.

Clausewitz helped negotiate the Convention of Tauroggen where Russia, Prussia and the United Kingdom formed an coalition that later defeated Napoleon Bonaparte.

Reviews

[Terry Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book about 20 years ago. After 5 combat tours and 4 tours as a "foreign advisor" I have a greater appreciation for what Clausewitz strove to convey - that experience in war better informs analysis and that the use of past historical example is better served to persuade the present leaders rather than present failure. Overcoming the present political and cultural barriers was the first obstacle to reform. Scharnhorst and Clausewitz's thought that history and theory were closely linked; but that did not mean they interact on a level playing field. Despite popular opinion and myth, the purpose of Clausewitz's writings was not to teach a specific doctrine, but to convey that objective history better generalized insights into the the timeless reality of politics and war - that history and experience in war are the major components in the pursuit of the study of theory.

The French Revolution was the central political and social fact of Clausewitz's generation. It changed the intellectual and political map of Europe and accelerated societies and thought reforms. Understanding the Revolution and its causes was an urgent necessity. Of all the reactions to the Revolution, Clausewitz's response is nonpartisan

This book is an very important contribution to understanding "On War" and contains a few important selections from Clausewitz's essays and notes. The book is grouped into 2 sections - Historical Writings and Political Writings, but no precise dividing line can be drawn as can be seen in the chapters on "Observations on the War of Austrian Succession" or "Observations on Prussia in her Great Catastrophe," or in his notes "The Germans and the French."

Lastly, the German translations to English have a contemporary tone and some verbiage reflects modern usage. The authors searched for the best English translations and they tried to preserve Clausewitz' style - especially in those areas that are the most distinctive of his way of thinking.
I highly recommend this book. I would also suggest you have copies on hand of "On War, and "The Soldier and the State,"