Bismarck, the Man and the Statesman - Being the Reflections and Reminiscences of Otto, Prince Von Bismarck Written and Dictated by Himself After His Retirement From Office #229737

Prince Bismarck began his notes soon after his dismissal from the offices he had so gloriously filled had removed the espalier - as he himself repeatedly said - over which his life bad hitherto climbed. The first suggestion came to him in an inquiry from Messrs. Cotta, coupled with an officer of publication; and as early as June 6, 1890, an agreement was made between the Prince and the representatives of the publishing firm of Cotta, by which, in the event of any Reminiscences being written by the Prince, the right of publication was conveyed to that house. To Lothar Bucher, the historian and diplomatist, who after the Prince's resignation lived for years, with short intervals, as a quiet inmate now at Friedrichsruh, now at Vaizin, belongs the merit of having confirmed Prince Bismarck in his resolution to set down in writing his recollections and political thoughts, and of having in daily conversations kept him to the task when begun. Bucher's shorthand notes from the Prince's dictation formed the groundwork of the first draft. This for years the Prince zealously worked at, constantly revising the notes as divided into chapters and systematically arranged, and supplementing them with his own hand.