Frederick The Great: Amazon.ca: Nancy Mitford: Books

Product Description

In this biography of Frederick the Great, Nancy Mitford carefully unravels the complex character of one of Europe's brilliant rulers. She re-creates his unhappy youth; his reforming zeal, which paved the way for a united Germany; and his spectacular wars.

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First Sentence
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 Antoinette's diamond necklace. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

3.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Well rounded picture of Fredrick the Great, Oct 17 2001

By	bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

I am a picture person and this book is jam packed with many color plates depicting various aspects of Freddie and his environment. One plat shows a map of Frederick's battles. For collectors there is a picture of A gilded snuff-box set with diamonds with a miniature of the King. To know some one you must know their background and environment. Then when you read about their actions you get a feel for the reasons behind these actions. What was going on the world around Freddy that help mold him?

In this book Nancy Mittford takes the blur of many wars and focuses them through the eyes of a single great leader.

This book is divided into twenty to chapters usually separated by wars, a section on resources, and an extensive index.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting But Flawed, Nov 2 2000

By	medelliana (Oxford, UK) - See all my reviews

Although this book is very well-written (at times it feels like a novel), I cannot help feeling that at times there was something missing. The sections that deal with Frederick's upbringing and home life are compelling, but as soon as Mitford dives into Frederick's battles (which were so numerous they almost defined his later life!) the discussion becomes very dense and hard to follow. While I loved hearing abour Voltaire's visit to Potsdam, and the interaction between the two luminaries, I felt that this short time was dwelt upon for a bit too long, perhaps to the detriment of other events in Frederick's life. The book is very sympathetic to Frederick William I (Frederick's father), who I feel is one of history's least likable characters. When it gets to Frederick's later life (after the Seven Years' War), the coverage becomes sparse. However, because at times it is so readable, I recommend this book to those who have little to no knowledge of Frederick and his times.

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5.0 out of 5 stars frederick the great, Jun 9 2000

By	bethwindsor@earthlink.net (PALM DESERT, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This book is, in my opinion, the essential starting point for anyone interested in the life of Frederick the Great and his times. More of an in depth personal and at times extremely heartrending portrayal of a complex, to say the least, and enigmatic figure. At the end of this study, it is as though you have gotten to know and then, tragically, lost a great friend. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Anecdotal Pleasure
I am well willing to believe that this may not be the most complete or scholarly approach to Frederick the Great. Read more

Published on Jun 1 2000 by C. Gilbert

2.0 out of 5 stars Mitford's Frederick the Great
Mitford's treatment of Frederick the Great is good for those readers who have little to no background on his life and times, since it is a very fluid read and is loaded with... Read more

Published on Dec 18 1999 by J E Andranian

2.0 out of 5 stars confusing, not enough on details--especially his battles
This book is a constant barrage of difficult names and convoluted information; and too little organized information on his battles. Read more

Published on Feb 20 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Heaven
Enjoyable, detailed, lively and fun - as ever, Nancy Mitford is a pleasure to read. Fred becomes a person, not just a long-dead king

Published on Aug 13 1997 by kymmuller@usa.net