Our Fritz

More about the book

On June 15, 1888, just ninety-nine days after becoming king of Prussia and German emperor, Frederick III died from throat cancer, captivating Europe with his tragic fate. Known as a military hero and a kind gentleman, he inspired grief that led some to offer their own larynxes to save him. Frank Lorenz Müller presents the first comprehensive biography of Frederick III, exploring how the beloved figure of “Our Fritz” was shaped and utilized for political ends before and after his untimely death. Positioned between his aging father’s reign and the tumultuous rule of his son, William II, Frederick III became a projection surface for various political hopes and fears regarding Germany's future. The narrative challenges the myth that Frederick’s liberalism could have fostered a lasting Anglo-German alliance and possibly averted World War I, while also addressing the exaggerated claims of opposing factions. The book features a vivid cast, including Frederick’s unpopular English wife, Vicky, and the cunning Otto von Bismarck, offering a poignant insight into Prussia, Germany, and the European landscape that would be irrevocably altered by his son’s actions.