History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 08
1858
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 08
1858
Carlyle's eighth volume delves into one of the most harrowing passages in the life of the man who would become Frederick the Great. The Crown Prince, barely into his twenties, has survived a catastrophic failure: his desperate attempt to defect to the English court with his friend Katte, resulting in Katte's execution before the prince's own eyes and Frederick's degradation at his father's hands. Now begins the grueling work of reconciliation, mediated by the steadfast Chaplain Muller and the diplomat Becker. Carlyle transforms what could be mere biographical chronicle into an intimate study of pride, fear, and the terrible weight of dynastic expectation. The young prince must swallow his shame and submit to a father he both fears and despises, while the king must choose between wrath and the survival of his line. Written in Carlyle's characteristically muscular prose, this volume reveals the psychological crucible in which Frederick's legendary will was forged. It endures for readers drawn to the formation of great men, and to the timeless drama of a son finding his way out of his father's shadow.
