Fridrich II. Jediný - Filozof na pruském trůně (2026)

This thematic biography of Frederick II the Great, King of Prussia, offers a multilayered portrait of his Janus-faced personality. On one hand, he is a cultivated student of Parisian philosophy, a cold intellectual, gifted writer, enthusiastic flautist, capable military commander and war hero; on the other, a barbaric Prussian brute, misanthropic despot and Machiavellian who turns Prussia into a respected European power in the eighteenth century. The book explores his character, sexuality, ancestry and family, as well as his conflict with his despotic father, culminating in a dramatic escape. It describes his relationships with siblings, relatives, friends and courtiers, his campaigns from the Silesian Wars through the Seven Years’ War to the “Potato War”, and his diplomacy and strategic negotiations with the European powers. It also examines his reforms, care for the economy and administration of the country, architectural visions, health, habits and diet. The final chapter follows the changing image of Frederick II and the birth of a legend whose portrait and buildings in Potsdam rank among the iconic images of modern Germany. The contents are in Czech.