Factors in German history

by Geoffrey Barraclough

165 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1979

About the author

Geoffrey Barraclough was an English historian, known as a medievalist and historian of Germany.

Reviews

[Jackson Cyril · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Barraclough's shorter essay-version of his classic "origins of modern Germany". I tried reading 'Origins' and found it to be tedious and too detailed for my taste. I was looking for a general overview of German history and this book admirably championed by cause. While it is shorter, Barraclough explores many of the themes that he believes are why Germany developed so differently from the other European powers ( decentralization, abosolute rule, the rise of the Princes, etc), he especially rails against the period after 1648 when the princes of the German states rules absolutely and this, according to him, stagnated German culture. A great read.