Dreadnought - Robert K. Massie

[Xerxes]

Robert Massie is just amazing. He wrote the Romanov series. In this two-volume book called Dreadnought and Castle Of Steels, he covers the decades leading to the Great War. Each about 1,000 page long. 
 

We know about the Age of Bismarck, the Halls of Versailles, elevation of King of Prussia to Kaiser, and rivalry that ignited into total war.
 

This book describe in details, the political machination in London and Berlin, the change in the cast of characters working behind the scenes. Great Britain emergence from the “splendid isolation” where it stayed totally away from any European alliance. 
 

Of interest, is Bismarck himself. You might think of him as an expansionist. Far from it. His only desire and goal was the unification of German people. But he was overruled by Moltke. Thus, French territory were seized, Paris humiliated and the rest is history. The French would do the same to Germans in 1920. 
 

Another is the internal debate on the elevation of the first Wilhelm to the imperial throne. Wilhelm was not interested. He felt that Prussian spartan way of life will be diluted by the “south Germans”.
 

Ultimately the title of emperor was more like a “Federal President” than a royal title. It was Wilhelm II that really embraced it. 
 

Here are some excerpt from the book. It is a great read. I am reading now how von Tirpitz pushed through bills to build up the German fleet. 
 

[UK]

1 hour ago, Xerxes said:

Robert Massie is just amazing. He wrote the Romanov series. In this two-volume book called Dreadnought and Castle Of Steels, he covers the decades leading to the Great War. Each about 1,000 page long. 
 

We know about the Age of Bismarck, the Halls of Versailles, elevation of King of Prussia to Kaiser, and rivalry that ignited into total war.
 

This book describe in details, the political machination in London and Berlin, the change in the cast of characters working behind the scenes. Great Britain emergence from the “splendid isolation” where it stayed totally away from any European alliance. 
 

Of interest, is Bismarck himself. You might think of him as an expansionist. Far from it. His only desire and goal was the unification of German people. But he was overruled by Moltke. Thus, French territory were seized, Paris humiliated and the rest is history. The French would do the same to Germans in 1920. 
 

Another is the internal debate on the elevation of the first Wilhelm to the imperial throne. Wilhelm was not interested. He felt that Prussian spartan way of life will be diluted by the “south Germans”.
 

Ultimately the title of emperor was more like a “Federal President” than a royal title. It was Wilhelm II that really embraced it. 
 

Here are some excerpt from the book. It is a great read. I am reading now how von Tirpitz pushed through bills to build up the German fleet. 
 

Serious stuff!

[schin]

6 hours ago, Xerxes said:

Robert Massie is just amazing. He wrote the Romanov series. In this two-volume book called Dreadnought and Castle Of Steels, he covers the decades leading to the Great War. Each about 1,000 page long. 
 

We know about the Age of Bismarck, the Halls of Versailles, elevation of King of Prussia to Kaiser, and rivalry that ignited into total war.
 

This book describe in details, the political machination in London and Berlin, the change in the cast of characters working behind the scenes. Great Britain emergence from the “splendid isolation” where it stayed totally away from any European alliance. 
 

Of interest, is Bismarck himself. You might think of him as an expansionist. Far from it. His only desire and goal was the unification of German people. But he was overruled by Moltke. Thus, French territory were seized, Paris humiliated and the rest is history. The French would do the same to Germans in 1920. 
 

Another is the internal debate on the elevation of the first Wilhelm to the imperial throne. Wilhelm was not interested. He felt that Prussian spartan way of life will be diluted by the “south Germans”.
 

Ultimately the title of emperor was more like a “Federal President” than a royal title. It was Wilhelm II that really embraced it. 
 

Here are some excerpt from the book. It is a great read. I am reading now how von Tirpitz pushed through bills to build up the German fleet. 
 

 

"would arrive at the Castle eager to describe...." What a cliff hanger?  Can you give us 500 more pages of it, so I find out how it ends? LOL.

 

Definitely will look into the book! Great recommendation!

[Xerxes]

19 hours ago, schin said:

 

"would arrive at the Castle eager to describe...." What a cliff hanger?  Can you give us 500 more pages of it, so I find out how it ends? LOL.

 

Definitely will look into the book! Great recommendation!

hahaha  I don’t think there was big cliffhanger after the castle