Bismarck and Germany: 1862-1890

Seminar Studies in History

by David G. Williamson

Seminar Studies in History...provide a means of bridging the gap between specialist articles and monographs and textbooks. They are written by acknowledged experts on the subject who are not only familiar with current thinking but have often contributed to it. Their format, well-tried and effective, combines information, analysis and assessment effectively. The selections of documents, included from the outset of the series when document work was hardly in vogue in schools, not merely illustrates points made in the text but provides an effective medium for discussion on the issues raised. The further reading guide has stimulated countless students to take their interests further. The structure of the series may not have changed through time but the format has, with attractive four-colour covers and larger pages....Seminar Studies are still, despite all the opposition, a market leader.
Teaching History
__________________________________________________________________________

The aim of this enormously popular Seminar Study is to provide students with a concise, up-to-date and analytical account of Bismarck s role in German history. Unlike other short studies available the book offers readers a balanced coverage of the period 1862 to 1890, with equal weight given to events before and after 1871. First published in 1986, Longman is delighted to reissue the book as a Second Edition. The author has taken the opportunity of updating the original text in the light of the new research and, in particular, has added new material on the relationship between economics and Bismarck s diplomacy; the social and constitutional history of Germany after 1871; and the historical debatesurrounding Bismarck in the 1990s. The bibliography has been brought up-to-date and two new maps have also been added.

The book opens with an introductory section which sets Bismarck s policies to secure Prussian hegemony into the context of German economic and political developments, particularly the German Customs Union (the Zollverein) and the rise of Liberalism in Prussia. Readers are then guided through the complex events leading to the defeats of Austria and France in 1866 and 1870 and the subsequent creation of a united Germany in January 1871. The book then explores the domestic and foreign problems Bismarck faced up to 1890 in consolidating unification. Thus, Bismarck s relations with the Catholics and Socialists, the consequences of the Great Depression and the question of whether there really was a second foundation of the Reich in 1878-9 are all looked at. Chapters on Bismarck s foreign and colonial policies trace his attempts to reconcile Austrian and Russian interests in the Balkans and the reasons for the creation of the German colonial empire in Africa and the Far East.

Genres: History, Germany, European History, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1986

About the author

David G. Williamson is the former head of history and politics at Highgate School.

Reviews

[Alexander Seifert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid little book on Otto von Bismarck and the role he played in the creation of the 2nd Reich.

In terms of content, the book is -- as it is advertised throughout -- something between a full historical text and a scholarly article. The actual written text was something in the ballpark of 70 pages, focusing mostly on the period between 1862 and 1890. There is very little focus given to Bismarck's life prior to the Chancellorship and very little focus given to his life after retirement. Research informs me that stuff like this was expanded in later versions (the one I had was the 1st edition).

That said, the text is a solid starting point for anyone curious about someone whose legacy has experienced a variety of ups and downs over the last century. Naturally with many of these debates, it's likely that the real legacy of Bismarck is halfway between 'he was just a good politician and the father of modern Germany' and 'he was a monster who helped set up Germany to help start two world wars'.

What I liked about the text was there's a lot of referencing to texts and diagrams located in the back. A lot of these figures and snippets of primary sources are referenced various times, which I imagine is why they're all packed into the back of the text, rather than included throughout. Nevertheless, this book succeeds in its role as a starting point for further research, and it allows the reader to whet their palette enough to determine whether they want to go and read a dedicated biography or not.

[Nael_5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of information, a good political analysis of Germany.

[Fred Ayres · Rating 5 out of 5]

In-depth history of Germany leading up to Bismarck and the wide-reaching effects of his regime.

[Eloise Anagnost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this was actually really well written and there were photos yay

[Peter Curtiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not flashy, just a concise summary of Bismarck's political role in the unification of Germany, which is exactly what I was looking for.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a typical history book. It explains the history of germany from 1862-1890 very well. I do however find it a little hard to follow because i am not an expert on the time or an expert on the vocabulary the author uses. I can fallow the millitary and political aspects pretty well but when it starts to talk about the economic aspects of Germany i get lost. I have learned a lot from the book though. It does talk about Bismarck but i wish it would talk about him more and his political savvy. I would tell people who are interested in Bismarck should read it but only if they have prior information on the subject.

[Ari Malik · Rating 3 out of 5]

informative, but horribly dull.