Bismarck was arguably the most important figure in nineteenth-century European history after 1815. In this biography, Edgar Feuchtwanger reassesses Bismarck's significance as a historical figure. He traces his development from a typical Junker, a reactionary and conservative, into the so-called white revolutionary who recast European affairs more drastically than anyone since Napoleon. This second edition includes a new introduction, taking into account the most recent scholarship on Bismarck, which reflects on Bismarck's legacy in modern Germany, which is once again the European economic powerhouse for which Bismarck laid the foundations. Feuchtwanger's lucid account demythologizes the German leader without demonising him. This book leaves the reader with a strongly-etched portrait of one of the decisive makers of the modern world.

Bismarck was arguably the most important figure in nineteenth-century European history after 1815. In this biography, Edgar Feuchtwanger reassesses Bismarck's significance as a historical figure. He traces his development from a typical Junker, a reactionary and conservative, into the so-called white revolutionary who recast European affairs more drastically than anyone since Napoleon. This second edition includes a new introduction, taking into account the most recent scholarship on Bismarck, which reflects on Bismarck's legacy in modern Germany, which is once again the European economic powerhouse for which Bismarck laid the foundations. Feuchtwanger's lucid account demythologizes the German leader without demonising him. This book leaves the reader with a strongly-etched portrait of one of the decisive makers of the modern world.

The German empire was founded in triumph in 1871 and crashed in disaster at the end of the First World War. Imperial Germany focuses on the domestic political developments of the period, putting them into context through a balanced guide to the economic and social background, culture and foreign policy. It explores the tensions caused within an empire which was formed through war, against the prevailing liberal spirit of the age.
Recent debates raised by German scholarship are made accessible to English speaking readers, and the book summarises the important controversies and competing interpretations of imperial German history. This important study poses many questions among them:
* was the desire to unify Germany the cause of the aggressive foreign policy leading to the First World War?
* To what extent was Bismarck's Second Reich the forerunner of Hitler's Third?
* Did Bismarck's authoritarian rule permanently hinder the political development of Germany?

The German empire was founded in triumph in 1871 and crashed in disaster at the end of the First World War. Imperial Germany focuses on the domestic political developments of the period, putting them into context through a balanced guide to the economic and social background, culture and foreign policy. It explores the tensions caused within an empire which was formed through war, against the prevailing liberal spirit of the age.
Recent debates raised by German scholarship are made accessible to English speaking readers, and the book summarises the important controversies and competing interpretations of Imperial German history. This important study poses many questions among them:
* was the desire to unify Germany the cause of the aggressive foreign policy leading to the First World War?
* to what extent was Bismarck's Second Reich the forerunner of Hitler's Third?
* did Bismarck's authoritarian rule permanently hinder the political development of Germany?

An adventurer and charlatan? A clever rogue? Or perspicacious politician, founder of the modern British Conservative Party? These different characteristics have all had their supporters: Disraeli rarely experienced indifference from his contemporaries, and later commentators have often mirrored these strikingly divergent valuations. This study seeks to do justice to Disraeli's controversial life and ambiguous political legacy. It provides a portrait of a man of great personal fascination as well as shedding light on the political development of Victorian Britain. In particular, it uses knowledge and perceptions about his background and early life, and assesses their influence on his development as a political leader.