Avis sur le produitModern Wars in Perspective Ser.: The Seven Years War in Europe : 1756-1763 by Franz A. J. Szabo (2007, Trade Paperback)

Book dominated by Negative Fredrick obsessions. Read Showalter or Duffy instead.

Bottom line: Other reviews were correct about the obsession with a Fredrick.
The reader would best read other books on the English / French conflicts and Fredrick the Great by Dennis Showalter:

A recommendation for readers who are in interested in the period Is to read multiple books and not attempt to reach that goal with only one book especially this one which is so tainted as far as the Fredrick issue is concerned.

This books spends so much effort in attempting to guide the readers impressions of Fredrick the Great that this effort can distract from the narrative. A person who has already read about the events or plans to read further may notice that the writers style is slanted: the information is based on actual resources however the author picks and chooses certain statements to fit his compulsion to degrade Fredrick. Not to mention some of the facts. For example: Szabo uses quotes from Catt however sparingly. Catt was Fredricks companion so to speak and wrote of his almost daily conversations and observations. The author states that Frederick did not accomplish his objectives at times. This is not true. Sure: If he could completely obliterate the Russian army that would be the ultimate goal. After the two main battles with Russia the Russians went back East thus allowing the Prussians to attempt again to tackle the Austrians. This the basic goal. Szabo spends pages attempting to create any other impression as to why the Russians had no wish to fight further other than the fact that the conflict was very costly in a number of ways. Tactical verse Strategic. Szabo does not seem as an historian to appreciate the Strategic gains. A competent History author would understand the difference.
Szabo continually attempts to convince the reader that the only victories by the Prussians and Fredrick occurred because the other guy slipped on a bar of soap.

Overall material does not stick to books premise:

During the 30 some page introduction Szabo explains to the reader there was the French / English conflict and the Prussian everyone else conflict. The reader may have ( as did I ) the impression that this book would stick to the Prussian events. He does not and repeats material covered by the other book by the same publisher.
If the reader has read The Global Seven Years War 1754-1763: Britain and France in a Great Power Contest (Modern Wars In Perspective) by Daniel A. Baugh (a well written in depth look at the French / English conflicts through out the world). Then some of the same material is presented with no further advantage.
One approach the reader may wish to take to this subject ( as works with many Eruo topics ) is multiple literary sources.

The books published by Helion I have read are excellent presentations ( too bad Helion does not include indexes. Very good authors lousy publisher who thinks they need to sell expensive easy to damage books instead affordable books with indexes. ).
Olmutz to Torgau is an excellent narrative of the Fredrick Prussian endeavors. Neil Cogswell presents different perspectives and makes an attempt to provide a varied view of the numbers. As opposed to Szabo who presents one number after the battle of Kunersdorf Cogswell presents the reader with the opportunity to view multiple views and numbers throughout his compilation of sources.

Guerra Fantastica by Antonio Barrento is an interesting look at the Portuguese / English – French / Spanish conflict.
Zweybrücken in Command: The Reichsarmee in the Campaign of 1758 is only about one year, however provides the reader with a further look at other area ( also put together by Cogswell ).

The military life of Frederick the Great by Dupuy is a good overall view.
A reader may wish to start with the Osprey books on the era. Always a good overview.

If this book was re-edited and all of Szabo’s Fredrick obsessions were removed and the repeat of material from the Baugh book. Then this book may have been a good read to fill in the gaps of events left out of most narratives, such as what did Sweden do.

The reader will spend a lot of time in what could be spent reading other books more to the point.Lire l'avis complet...

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