Germany from Napoleon to Bismarck

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Thomas Nipperdey provides valuable insights into the history and culture of German nationalism, focusing on the critical prenational period of transition. He thoroughly explores the origins of German nationalism, detailing the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and Bismarck's division of the German-speaking world into three regions: an expanded Prussian state in the north, an isolated Austria-Hungary in the south, and a cluster of Catholic states in between. Nipperdey argues that this shift in power structures was pivotal for the future of the German state. He examines the decline of German liberalism amid the rise of nationalism, reframing the narrative from one of inevitable disaster to a series of contingent choices. The book begins with the profound impact of Napoleon on the German ancien-régime, illustrating how his modernizing influence contributed to the emergence of a civil society centered on the liberal bourgeoisie. Nipperdey tracks the trajectory of this society from the revolutions of 1848-49 to Bismarck's ascendancy, incorporating discussions of family life, working conditions, agriculture, industrialization, demography, religion, education, and the arts. Originally published in 1996, this work is now available again through the Princeton Legacy Library, which aims to enhance access to the scholarly heritage of Princeton University Press.