SKU: 14604395331

The Last Kaiser: The Life of Wilhelm II

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The Last Kaiser: The Life of Wilhelm IIGermany's last kaiser was born in Potsdam on January 27, 1859, the son of Prince Frederick of Prussia and Princess Vicky, Queen Victoria's eldest child. William was born with a withered arm possibly the result of cerebral palsy and many historians have sought in this a clue to his behavior in later life. He was believed mad by some, eccentric by others. Possessed of a ferocious temper, he was prone to reactionary statements, often contradicted by his

Germany's last kaiser was born in Potsdam on January 27, 1859, the son of Prince Frederick of Prussia and Princess Vicky, Queen Victoria's eldest child. William was born with a withered arm---possibly the result of cerebral palsy---and many historians have sought in this a clue to his behavior in later life. He was believed mad by some, eccentric by others. Possessed of a ferocious temper, he was prone to reactionary statements, often contradicted by his next action or utterance. He was rumored to have sired numerous illegitimate children and yet was by all appearances a prig. He was brought up by a severe Calvinist tutor Hinzpeter, but his entourage spoiled him, allowing him to win at games and maneuvers to compensate for his deformities. This gave him a sense of inherent invincibility.

William became kaiser at age twenty-nine. Two years later he drove Bismarck out after he had blocked his liberal social policy. He destabilized the Iron Chancellor's foreign policy by failing to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia, a decision that opened the way for Russia's alliance with France in 1891. William then went on to build a powerful fleet. Though he always denied his target was Britain, there is evidence that German domination of the seas was his real aim---his secretary of state, Tirpitz, was less anxious to please the British than the grandson of Queen Victoria. But William idolized the British Queen. As soon as he heard she was dying he rushed to Osborne House to be at her bedside; his own daughter later said, "The Queen of England died in the arms of the German Kaiser."

William II is widely perceived as a warmonger who seemed to delight in power-grabbing, bloodshed, and the belligerent aims of his staff; and yet the image he carved out for himself and for posterity was that of "Emperor of peace." Historically he has been blamed for World War I, although he made real efforts to prevent it. He has been branded an anti-Semite, but ironically the Nazis wrote him off as a "Jew-lover." In this fascinating, authoritative new life, MacDonogh, widely praised for his biography of Frederick the Great, takes a fresh look at this complex, contradictory statesman and the charges against him to find that many of them can no longer be upheld.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
Published: 09/05/2000
ISBN: 9780312305574
Pages: 560
Weight: 1.55lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 1.30d
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SKU: 14604395331

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Jaspeter
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 3
Great read, bad book
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Ray Bradbury dragged me in with his style when I recently read Farenheit 451. He kept me hooked with Dandelion Wine. This book is full of imagery and nostalgic longing for a place and time that doesn't exist anymore. There are stories that stretch the limits of belief (particularly The Happiness Machine), yet somehow they still seem to fit comfortably within the world of Green Town. I don't often reread books, but this might fall into a rotation. The bad part of this was that the physical book, itself. The font is difficult to read. The binding is brittle. And chunks of pages separated from the spine. If there's another version besides this one, or the e-book, maybe you'll have a better experience.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2024
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michael chad cleary
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
The diversity of Bradbury
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Book one in the Green Town series is a colorful and poetic journey following the adventures of a 12 year old boy named Douglas over the course of a summer. Some readers may be wondering when something dark, scary, magical, or mythical will happen--but this isn't that type of book. In this work RB shows exactly why he had such a large fanbase by showcasing his ability to not be put in any particular genre. He can do horror, he can do sci-fi, he can do mystery, he can do adventure! This is a book for a writer to read in order to see how a good book is written. Many people are put off by Bradbury's sometimes semi-pretentious word usage, but I truly think the man saw things in a magical way. He works very hard in this novel to share that with the reader and he does it beautifully. As I explored the first few chapters I began to realize it isn't about trying to understand every word he writes, but rather let the town take shape in your mind with the words on the page. Bradbury seems to be more prone to use descriptive language as it relates to objects rather than people which allows the reader to create the characters appearances. The much like SWTWC is a must have addition to your Bradbury collection!
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Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2023
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Mr Toad
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 4
Like drinking dandelion wine- it grows on you over time
Format: Hardcover
I was not terribly engaged with this book initially. The writing was beautiful. Poetic. But it was easy to put down and did not compel me to pick the book up again. Yet I had been warned of this and had been told to stick with it - and the advice was good. There is a slow poetic build as the reader comes to know the town and swim in its nostalgic melancholy. Ultimately, the book was a beautiful read. Never gripping but reflective and perfect for a contemplative read. It is about the passing of time. Youth and our mortality. Our eccentricities as our strengths. It is a picture of a small town in 1928, in summer, if you were white and middle class. It is a time and place and yet somehow captures something universal about the nature of memory and an awareness of inevitable death. About life in its truest sense.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2019
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Amazon Customer
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Great book!
Format: Paperback
This book was my first Alexandra Moody book and I didn’t know how I was going to like it, but it was amazing! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time it was a perfect read for 12 and up, after this I bought more of her books! Overall it was a clean and amazing read
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Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2026
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woej3745
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 4
great book!
so cute and driving, definitely pretty predictable but it’s a fun, in between books, or if you just don’t have anything to read, book. definitely recommend. its a little cheesy at times but it’s good overall. i did not like the main character 😭 she’s a little bit annoying and overly blind socially, but i liked Chase and he kept me reading. i will say it one again; i think it was a really good read and it’s pretty light-hearted and a good idea with the enemies-to-lovers thing. loved it!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2025

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