A Duel of Nations : Germany, France, and the Diplomacy of the War of 1870–1871

On July 19, 1870, Emperor Napoleon III of France declared war against the Prussia of King William I and Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck. __A Duel of Nations__ dramatically depicts the world in which that war took place. In this, the first book in English to study in totality the diplomatic history of the Franco-Prussian War, David Wetzel draws extensively on private and official records, journalistic accounts, cabinet minutes, and public statements by key players to produce a book that is unmatched in the range and clarity of its analysis, its forceful characterizations, and its vivid language. On July 19, 1870, Emperor Napoleon III of France declared war against the Prussia of King William I and Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck. A Duel of Nations dramatically depicts the world in which that war took place. In this, the first book in English to study in totality the diplomatic history of the Franco-Prussian War, David Wetzel draws extensively on private and official records, journalistic accounts, cabinet minutes, and public statements by key players to produce a book that is unmatched in the range and clarity of its analysis, its forceful characterizations, and its vivid language. -- Book cover Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 16 1. Politics and Personalities......Page 20 2. The Position of the Powers......Page 43 3. The League of Neutrals......Page 58 4. The End of Napoleon III......Page 84 5. Ferrières......Page 117 6. Bismarck, Bazaine, and Thiers......Page 139 7. Bismarck’s Anxieties......Page 162 8. Armistice......Page 197 Conclusion......Page 230 List of Abbreviations......Page 244 Notes......Page 248 Bibliographical Essay......Page 268 Index......Page 322