Frederick the Great

By: Charles Booth Brackenbury

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

Frederick the Great, king of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, was one of the most remarkable men of the 18th century. Born the son of strict disciplinarian Frederick William I in 1712, he was a most precocious and obstinate young man, and until he actually became king, he never exhibited any signs of becoming a military genius. But the young king displayed an amazing aptitude for military life and plunged into war with Austria over the long-disputed province of Silesia.

The next 30 years of his life were consumed in wars against Austria, France, Russia, Sweden, and even England at times. After the Seven Years' War, the Prussian military acquired a formidable reputation across Europe. Esteemed for its efficiency and success in battle, the Prussian army of Frederick became a model emulated by other European powers, most notably by Russia and France, the latter of which quickly applied the lessons of Frederick's military tactics under the direction of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The most remarkable thing about Frederick’s life was his devotion to the arts, literature, and architecture. French alone was spoken at his court. He was a gifted musician, an admirer of Bach, and composed over 100 pieces for flute. His love of philosophy attracted thinkers from all over Europe, including Voltaire. Frederick became the very model of the enlightened despot. He promoted freedom of religion and was more tolerant of freedom of expression than other sovereigns.

When Frederick’s wars were over, he promoted trade and colonization into areas left devastated and depopulated by war. His brilliant organizational abilities bore fruit very quickly, and by the end of Frederick’s life, Prussia had become a very prosperous kingdom.

Listeners are urged to seek online sources for maps of the many battles described in this book.

Public Domain (P)2018 Audio Connoisseur

Entertaining and witty history

Very entertaining historical work by Brackenbury. The style is very mid-19th century, which may be off putting to some, but the narrative of Frederick's life and times was excellent. I found the short musical interludes at the beginning of each chapter with military type marches were a splendid way to mark each chapter. Surprising to me was the sense of humor that Brackenbury employs. Most histories from earlier centuries can be very dry and clinical, not so with this author. He is not afraid to criticize and even wittily ridicule Frederick or other figures when they merit such treatment for their behavior. Thoroughly enjoyed this little known historical artifact.

A military history

If you want to learn about Fritz’s military accomplishments in the Seven Years War, this will have you covered. It is not a story of the Enlightenment, however.

The music didn't help.

Great story, well read. I found the music that started every chapter distracting and annoying.

It's worth noting....

that though this book was written almost a century and a half ago, the author's insight into the tactics and political sphere of the time are not as alien as would be to an author of today. And as such, are invaluable. It was written at a time when the military tactics of the world were truly being rewriten from the Seven Years War to the Civil War by Germany herself in the Austro-Prussian War.

Good overview

Frederick the Great is a complex subject: any one book will have trouble doing complete justice to his life. This volume however does a creditable job. I especially liked the coverage of his youth. The description of the period in which, as a king, he immersed himself in war, could become hard to follow. I wish that more time had been devoted to his interactions with the great philosophe Voltaire. And, the description of the end of his life could have been more detailed. But overall, a good introduction to this fascinating "philosopher king."

Accent

Love history, the heavy British accent made an overly wordy narration laborious. If you aren’t completely focused on the British accent and translating it to an American dialect you will miss out on the wonderful story hidden behind the narrator. Was like listening to Shakespeare performed by someone from Louisiana if you are British I imagine.