Frederick the Great

A Military History

By: Dennis Showalter

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Frederick the Great is one of history's most important leaders. Famed for his military successes and domestic reforms, his campaigns were a watershed in the history of Europe, securing Prussia's place as a continental power and inaugurating a new pattern of total war that was to endure until 1916. However, much myth surrounds this enigmatic man's personality and his role as politician, warrior, and king.

Dennis Showalter's cleverly written book provides a refreshing, multidimensional depiction of Frederick the Great and an objective, detailed reappraisal of his military, political, and social achievements. Early chapters set the scene with an excellent summary of 18th-century Europe and the Age of Reason; an analysis of the character, composition, and operating procedures of the Prussian army; and explore Frederick's personality as a young man. Later chapters examine his stunning victories at Rossbach and Leuthen, his defeats at Prague, and Kolin and Prussia's emergence as a key European power.

Written with style and pace, this book offers brilliant insights into the political and military history of the 18th century, and one of history's most famous rulers.

©1996 Dennis Showalter; introduction copyright 2012 by Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (P)2020 Tantor

Superb

I must admit I knew very little about Fredrick the Great. I remember just the name from what I had learned in school many, many years ago. I came across this book hoping I would learn something, and I did.

This is not a biography of Fredrick Hohenzollern II (1712-1786), King of Prussia, but a review of this military campaigns. Fredrick the Great ruled Prussia as a highly disciplined police state. He is famous for reorganizing the Prussian Army. He was fanatical about discipline and his military became famous as the most disciplined army in Europe. He said that he wanted the men more afraid of the officers than the enemy. He also developed the goose step march that requires enormous disciple and strikes fear in the people. Today, it is primarily used by the armies of dictators. Showalter made a comment that caught my attention, he said, “Fredrick was King of Prussia but should have been in the mad house.”

The book is well written and meticulously researched. I was impressed by Showalter’s writing skills. He presented the materials in a most readable fashion. The book is thirteen hours and thirty-one minutes. Joe Barrett does an excellent job narrating the book. Barrett is an actor. He has won fourteen Earphone Awards, eight times a finalist for the Audie Award and finally won it in 2013.

Military History Fans Will Like

Honestly my fault for getting this. I would have enjoyed this title better had the military been a backdrop for the biography. Instead you get Showalter writing for American military history fans. It makes interesting but surface level comparisons to famous conflicts. I really had to force myself through the last 2-3 hours.

Very interesting history of Frederick…

Great details of Frederick the Great and Prussian history. I thought there were time when we got bogged down in the minutia of each battle, but I’m sure many enjoyed those details. The use of French military terms added flare, but he never translated them…. I haven’t studied French in over 30 years, so I missed about 50 percent. lol

Some good info, horrible narration

Had to slow speed to 75% to avoid going nuts. Narrator pauses in weird places and strings together sentences without pausing in other places. I would skip it even though I made it through.

Conflict, Politics, Economics, Social Expectations all form to succeed.

Slow start to this book. Don’t quit. Like a snow ball starting down a mountain. At the bottom it’s a landslide. This book is the same. By the middle of this book, I was not able to stop listening. On the one hand, I wanted Frederick to win. On the other, I didn’t. This book helps to make it clear why it is vital to have a ready, well-trained, and well-lead military. Read and find out.