Germany Since 1740 #250398

The rise of modern Germany has long attracted the interest of American readers, but interest has often been baffled by the complexities of German state and national life and by the mass of detail which historians have in cluded in their accounts of Germany. Many Americans de sire, I believe, an introduction to German history. I have attempted to meet this desire by choosing the most inter esting period from the accessions of Maria Theresa and Frederick the Great in 1740 down to recent times — and presenting only the most important events of this period. Both for facts and for ideas I am indebted to German as well as English printed sources and to numerous Prince ton friends and colleagues. More particular gratitude has been richly merited by Professor Sidney B. Fay of Smith College, who read the manuscript of the whole book with exceeding care and offered many acute observations and suggestions. To John Haughton Coney I can no longer voice acknowledgment of the stimulus which his counsel always gave, for he is gone, and Princeton and American historical science have lost one of their noblest spirits.