First published 2011
Jonathan Steinberg examines the contradictory life of Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian statesman who forged modern Germany. Drawing extensively from writings by Bismarck's contemporaries, both allies and enemies, Steinberg constructs a portrait of extraordinary complexity. The man who emerged was a political genius of unmatched ability, possibly the most intelligent leader of any major power in modern history. Yet Bismarck embodied the most ruthless elements of Prussian culture. He was simultaneously a hypochondriac with an iron constitution, a tyrant who wept easily, and an evangelical Protestant convert who secularized education and legalized civil divorce. His contemporaries recognized something beyond normal human traits in his character, a demonic quality that inspired both awe and fear. Behind his various public roles lay an ice cold disdain for humanity and an overwhelming drive to dominate others. One observer described his rule as a relentless campaign of contempt against mankind. This comprehensive study reveals how Bismarck's unparalleled political talents coexisted with deep character flaws.
Genres: biography, history, historical, 20th-century, non-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: complex-character, flawed-protagonist
Setting: Germany, Prussia
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
577 pages · Hardcover · Oxford University Press