Frederick the Great

Nonfiction, History, Modern, 18th Century, Biography & Memoir, Royalty, Historical
Cover of the book Frederick the Great by Nancy Mitford, New York Review Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Nancy Mitford ISBN: 9781590176429
Publisher: New York Review Books Publication: July 23, 2013
Imprint: NYRB Classics Language: English
Author: Nancy Mitford
ISBN: 9781590176429
Publisher: New York Review Books
Publication: July 23, 2013
Imprint: NYRB Classics
Language: English

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 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.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

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 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.

More books from New York Review Books

Cover of the book The Milk of Dreams by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book The Shipwrecked Mind by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book A Traveller in Time by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book The Rescuers by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book The Memoirs of Two Young Wives by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book Boredom by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book Testing the Current by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book Ride a Cockhorse by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book Henri Duchemin and His Shadows by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book Young Once by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book Out of My Head by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book The Seven Madmen by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book The Bridge of Beyond by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book Transit by Nancy Mitford
Cover of the book The Wedding of Zein by Nancy Mitford
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy