Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor

Life & Times

by Volker Ullrich, Prince Ferdinand von Bismarck

Following German reunification in 1990 there has been a reassessment of Bismarck's role in European history

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, 19th Century

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Volker Ullrich was born in Celle. He studied history, literature, philosophy and education at the University of Hamburg. From 1966 to 1969 he was assistant to the Hamburg’s Egmont Zechlin Chair. He graduated in 1975 after a dissertation on the Hamburg labour movement of the early 20th Century, after which he worked as a Hamburg school teacher. He was, for a time, a lecturer in politics at the Lüneburg University, and in 1988 he became a research fellow at Hamburg’s Foundation for 20th-century Social History. Since 1990 Ullrich has been the head of the political section of the weekly newspaper Die Zeit.
Ullrich has published articles and books on 19th- and 20th-century history. In 1996 he reviewed the thesis postulated in Daniel Goldhagen’s book Hitler's Willing Executioners that provoked fresh debate among historians.
In 1992 he was awarded the Alfred Kerr Prize for literary criticism, and, in 2008, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Jena.

Reviews

[David C Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know very little about German and middle European history but this seems to be a judicious summation of Bismarck ‘s life and career. It’s an essay, not a full fledged biography. Ullrich is at pains to show that the post mortem image of the Iron Count, used to justify German aggression, was belied by Bismarck’s intentions after 1872 of preserving the status quo and the peace. This defensive position, especially his indifference to a colonial empire, made him increasingly at odds with his times and with the thrusting generation of the 1880s, especially Kaiser Wilhelm. Where Bismarck’s authoriatarianism may have hurt Germany was in hindering the growth of a broad based political culture that could exist without a strong man. Bismarck’s disdain for parliament did lasting damage, a century’s worth really.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't care much for super short bios and Histories, but this book was written so damned well. My copy was only 97 pages. There was an incredible amount of history and information cramed into this book. Highly recommended!

[Marco Heismann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otto von Bismarck by Volker Ullrich is an incredibly comprehensive and detailed biography of the life and times of Otto von Bismarck, one of Germany’s most influential political figures. The book provides a thorough exploration into his public career as well as his personal life, offering readers insight into how he changed German politics forever.

Ullrich does an excellent job at providing a balanced account that neither vilifies nor idolizes Bismarck; instead he paints him with great nuance so that we can understand both the positive contributions to German history as well as some controversial decisions made during his tenure in office. With meticulous research and attention to detail, Ullrich covers all aspects from early childhood to deathbed reflections on legacy – making this book essential reading for any student or scholar interested in 19th century European history.

Overall I highly recommend Otto Von Bismarck by Volker Ullrich – it's not only informative but also engaging throughout its 158 pages! Whether you're looking for a more general overview or want greater depth on specific topics such as foreign policy or domestic affairs, this is certainly the right place to start your journey through Prussian History!

[Martyn Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew nothing about Bismarck so found the book a great introduction to the man and his life. Its a neatly done precis of one of modern day Europe’s architects whether that is for good or bad is arguable! I really liked the way the author used Bismarck’s own words to emphasise specific milestone events in his life, likely a useful tool when trying to encapsulate such a towering figure in German history! A worthy “toe in the water” re Bismarck, I suspect the full tome on him would be weighty to day the least!

[Jack Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew nothing about Bismark going in, but the book is an excellent, short biography of the man. It will either fill you in on why he is so important or leave you with a desire to learn more about the era in general.

[Jari99]

Kurz und knackig. Funktioniert gut als Einleitung in die Person Bismarcks.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the most successful (in politics) Germans ever. His secrete? he decided to step back while he still was popular. in this book hes not only the strong statesman. he makes mistakes and has depressing phases while suffering from his (minor) illness. started me thinking about the German saying "everyone is only cooking with water".