Derek McKay was Senior Lecturer in International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His work focuses on the history of Europe and the United States in the 20th century, with a particular emphasis on international relations, the Cold War, and US foreign policy. McKay explores the complex interactions between major powers, analyzing the causes and consequences of key historical events. His analyses are characterized by a deep understanding of historical context and the ability to present complex issues in an accessible manner.
In this first biography in English for fifty years, Derek McKay avoids the limitation of seeing Frederick William primarily as precursor of the 'Enlightened' Frederick the Great. Instead, he roots him firmly in his own time, a dynastic, protestant ruler like many another in Germany, but gifted with the toughness and opportunism to overcome the hostility of his local nobilities and of the surrounding great powers.