THE REICH BEFORE

GERMANY FROM THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE TO THE AGE OF BISMARCK, 1789-1890

Germany at the end of the 18th century was a loose commonwealth of hundreds of states that stretched from the North Sea to Hungary, from Denmark to Italy.  A hundred years later, it was a single colossus astride the heart of Europe. 

"The Reich Before" tells the in-depth tale of the staggering transformation of Germany from a feudal empire into a late-coming world power whose rise destabilized all of Europe. 

From Napoleon to Bismarck, "The Reich Before" traces the evolution and meaning of the word Reich before National Socialism changed its connotations forever. 

Chapters discuss the impact of the French Revolution, the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, the career of Bismarck, the history and role of Jews in Germany, the rise of modern racism in the colonial era, the neglected personality of Emperor William I, and the epoch-making Franco-Prussian War.  

Overflowing with unique anecdotes, maps, and energetic narrative, "The Reich Before" seeks to close a gap in your history shelf with a compelling and unified narrative of epic scale: the creation of modern Germany.