Frederick the Great;

This biography of Frederick the Great of Prussia is chiefly remarkable for its author, Nancy Mitford. Mitford was a well known and talented novelist whose books, most famously The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate, were charming, hilarious, and moving. In her later years Mitford turned to history and biography, producing pleasant and lively studies of Louis XIV, Madame de Pompadour, Voltaire, and this book, her final one, on the King of Prussia. Its important to understand that Mitford had little formal education but possessed a formidable intelligence and a sparkling wit. Other biographies of Frederick the Great will contain more historical analysis and detail, but none will be as enjoyable to read or as memorable for its fine turns of phrase and excellent characterizations. This is Frederick the human being as one of his most perceptive and clever friends might describe him. Additionally, the many beautiful illustrations, including color plates of Frederick's palaces and reproductions of period portraits, add to the reader's delight. So don't be put off by Mitford's lack of formal scholarly credentials, this book will help its readers understand Frederick the man and his times and will often cause them to laugh as well.

This is the second Nancy Mitford Bio that I've read. The other, Madame de Pompadour, was generally more intimate and entertaining. However, this book introduced me well to a subject and place that I don't know much about, and was consistently interesting. Her description of Frederick's childhood and family relationships was engaging and by far the strongest part of the book. I'm not particularly interested in military history, so I had to slog through the long descriptions of battles. Many titled persons are introduced who don't do much, and I found it difficult to keep track of them all. However, Frederick's personality, and those of his immediate family, dominate the book, and they are very very interesting people. Mitford has a unique sympathy for privileged subjects, their manners and ideals. After reading this book, I immediately ordered "The Sun King" by Mitford, and enjoyed it even more.

This book is, in my opinion, the essential starting point for anyone interested in the life of Frederick the Great and his times. More of an in depth personal and at times extremely heartrending portrayal of a complex, to say the least, and enigmatic figure. At the end of this study, it is as though you have gotten to know and then, tragically, lost a great friend. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history.

I am well willing to believe that this may not be the most complete or scholarly approach to Frederick the Great. However, I also do not think that it positions itself to be. If you are familiar with Mitford as a biographer, then you should expect this to be written with her usual style. Mitford's voice is laconic and dry. One of the best things about her biographical writings is that despite that dryness, her affection for her subjects is clearly visible. Certainly she is one of the few historical biographers who regularly make me laugh out loud when I read the work. Frederick the Great was a monarch that I knew very little about from a period of which I had only vague knowledge. I shut the book feeling that I had gained a good high level understanding as well as a real desire to read further. It is difficult for me to assess how satisfying it would be for someone who is a real scholar of the period. A Mitford biography is always a great gift for armchair historians, or for general readers who do not think that they will enjoy biographies. Reading this kind of entertaining work might also be a good way to tempt younger readers into exploring history.

Enjoyable, detailed, lively and fun - as ever, Nancy Mitford is a pleasure to read. Fred becomes a person, not just a long-dead king