THE FOUNDING OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE
BY WILLIAM I.
Based chiefly upon Prussian State Documents.
Translated from the German of Heinrich Von Sybel by Professor Marshall Livingston Perrin, of the Boston University
The welding together into a mighty united nation of the petty dukedoms and principalities which fifty years ago made up the heterogeniety of Germany was the greatest political feat of this century. Dr. Von Sybel, pre-eminently fitted by nature and training to be the historian of this tremendous creation, had the additional advantage of access to original sources of information in the archives of Prussia, Hanover, Hesse Cassel, and Nassau, and the State papers and diplomatic correspondence preserved in the foreign office at Berlin. His history, therefore, may be accepted as absolutely authentic, and that it has been so accepted is shown by the universal chorus of praise from German critics which greeted its first appearance, and by the fact that within two months of publication fifty thousand copies were sold. Sybel's style is remarkably smooth and attractive, full of vigor, life, and movement, and it has been admirably rendered into idiomatic English by Professor Perrin, whose long residence in Germany made the language like his mother tongue to him. Finely engraved portraits of the Emperors William I., Frederick, and William II., and of Bismarck and Moltke, give additional value to the volumes.
"Since the death of Ranke, Von Sybel has occupied unquestionably the first rank among German historians."—American Hebrew.
"The translation of this admirable history is very well done indeed. It reflects few of the German involutions, and reads smoothly and flowingly. Of the history itself, it must be said that nothing comparable to it in fulness, clearness, trustworthiness, and vigor, has been written concerning the great events of which it treats."—N. Y. Tribune.
"No reason to believe that it will be superseded during the present generation."—N. Y. Sun.
"No more important historical work has appeared in the last decade."—Nation.