Frederick the Great

"Frederick II, King of Prussia, was a legendary ruler, artistic patron, man of letters, lawgiver and commander. He personally led his army in war after war with such supreme skill that he became acclaimed as the greatest soldier of his time. He was an avid collector of paintings and was a distinguished musician himself. He corresponded with the leading intellectuals of the Age of Enlightenment, most notably Voltaire, and wrote poetry as well as books on politics and warfare." "David Fraser places Frederick's life as a solider at the center of this researched book, allowing us to understand Frederick's strengths and weaknesses in the field. Fraser not only brings to these pages the authentic smell of battle, but also offers a sweeping account of strategy and maneuver, of psychology, morale and the impact of victory and defeat on the victors and vanquished. He also knows how to view military action in the context of eighteenth-century European diplomacy and the ever-shifting political forces that would re-shape the map of Europe and touch off the American Revolution."--BOOK JACKET.