Bismarck
Georges Lacour-Gayet
Read by Pamela Nagami
Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) famously said, "The great questions of the day will not be settled by speeches or the decisions of the majority...but by iron and blood." Prince Bismarck unified the German states under Prussian hegemony through a series of carefully orchestrated wars, which excluded Austria from the new Confederation and added Schleswig-Holstein, and Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. But Bismarck avoided useless confrontations and was, above all, a master of balance of power diplomacy. His skills, both at home and abroad, won him the loyal support of Kaiser Wilhelm I. Paternalistic and socially conservative, Bismarck established for workers the very first government sickness, accident, and old-age insurance. This pithy, if pungent little biography was written in 1918 by the French historian, Georges Lacour-Gayet, who often lets Bismarck tell his story in his own inimitable words. - Summary by Pamela Nagami (7 hr 20 min)
Chapters
Ch. 1: Years of Preparation, Pt. 1 | 30:07 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 1: Years of Preparation, Pt. 2 | 33:52 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 2: The First Passage of Arms, Pt. 1 | 28:49 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 2: The First Passage of Arms, Pt. 2 | 37:28 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 3: Sadowa, Pt. 1 | 33:26 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 3: Sadowa, Pt. 2 | 35:45 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 4: The War of 1870, Pt. 1 | 34:07 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 4: The War of 1870, Pt. 2 | 39:53 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 5: The German Empire, Pt. 1 | 43:07 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 5: The German Empire, Pt. 2 | 36:02 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 6: Last Fights, Pt. 1 | 40:07 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Ch. 6: Last Fights, Pt. 2 | 48:11 | Read by Pamela Nagami |
Reviews
Thorough biography, if biased
TwinkieToes
Written during WWI by a French biographer, there is definitely some bitterness expressed towards Bismarck, whom the author blames for the set-up to WWI. But who can fault him for this? It would be interesting, though, to read a biography on Bismarck from a more neutral biographer, to see if they would also blame his policies for the Great War. Nicely read by Pamela Nagami.
Bismarck the Master of Duplicity.
Diogenes46
This book is the biography of Otto von Bismarck the father and architect of World 1 and subsequently World War 2. Beautifully read by Pamela Nagami.
Ripping history
JD
Thanks again Pamela Nagami for another excellent presentation. This insightful account of Bismarck's career and its impact on Europe is riveting.
Kyle
A French perspective of Bismarck circa 1918. Well narrated, thanks Pamala!