At more than 55,000 words long, Frederick the Great: Iron and Ideas delivers an immersive, unabridged narrative tracing the extraordinary life of Frederick II of Prussia. From the trauma of a brutal upbringing under the "Soldier King" to the masterclasses of maneuver warfare that transformed European history, this volume captures the paradox of an Enlightenment thinker who commanded the continent's most feared military machine.
Inside the Book
The Shadow of the Father: Witness Frederick’s youth under the harsh reign of King Frederick William I, his forbidden passion for French literature and the flute, and the devastating Katte affair that nearly cost him his life.
The Haven of Ideas: Step inside the salons of Rheinsberg and the terraces of Sanssouci, where the young crown prince corresponded with Voltaire, penned the Anti-Machiavel, and cultivated a private world of philosophy and music.
Master of the Battlefield: Experience the pulse of 18th-century warfare across the blood-soaked fields of Mollwitz, Hohenfriedberg, Rossbach, and Leuthen. Discover how the Prussian "oblique order" broke empires twice its size.
Statecraft and Survival: Follow Frederick through the harrowing crucible of the Seven Years' War, the razor-thin margin of the "Miracle of the House of Brandenburg," and the extensive postwar reconstruction of Prussia’s legal, agricultural, and administrative foundations.
The Solitary Twilight: Meet "Old Fritz" in his final years—a weary, austere monarch governing with relentless discipline, checking Habsburg ambitions, and securing the legacy of the Hohenzollern dynasty.
Chapter Breakdown
Chapter 1: The Crown Prince and the Soldier King (1712–1730)
Chapter 2: The Katte Affair and Castle Custrin (1730–1734)
Chapter 3: The Sanctuary of Rheinsberg (1734–1740)
Chapter 4: The Strike for Silesia (1740–1742)
Chapter 5: Defense of the Conquest (1742–1745)
Chapter 6: The Haven of Sanssouci (1745–1756)
Chapter 7: Fire on All Fronts (1756–1758)
Chapter 8: The Brink and the Miracle (1758–1763)
Chapter 9: The Rebuilding of Prussia (1763–1778)
Chapter 10: The Twilight of "Old Fritz" (1778–1786)
This book was made with the assistance of AI, but there was always a human in the loop.
Jamie Glick is an author and media producer dedicated to chronicling the lives of the world’s most influential figures. With a focus on high-volume, meticulously researched content creation, Glick is currently engaged in a large-scale project to produce a comprehensive library of biographies covering top cultural and historical icons.
His work spans a vast chronological and cultural spectrum, ranging from the foundational architects of history to the modern disruptors shaping the future. Glick’s narrative approach identifies the grit, intelligence, and pivotal moments that allow cultural icons to transcend their eras. His biographical series are designed to serve as essential texts for understanding both the modern industry of fame and the historical bedrock of the 21st century.