Frederick the Great: A Military History

A biography of the Prussian king and military leader Frederick the Great by Dennis Showalter, a Pritzker Literature Award winner. The book examines Frederick's military campaigns, which reshaped European power dynamics and introduced new patterns of warfare that persisted until 1916, establishing Prussia as a continental force. It separates fact from myth surrounding Frederick's life and legacy as politician, warrior, and king. Early chapters provide context on eighteenth-century Europe, the Age of Reason, the structure and operations of the Prussian army, and Frederick's early character. Later sections analyze his major military engagements, including victories at Rossbach and Leuthen and defeats at Prague and Kolín, as well as Prussia's rise to prominence. The book offers a detailed reappraisal of Frederick's military, political, and social achievements and provides insights into eighteenth-century political and military history.