Blood and Iron

By Katja Hoyer,

Book cover of Blood and Iron: The Rise and Fall of the German Empire; 1871-1918

Book description

Before 1871, Germany was not yet a nation but simply an idea. Otto von Bismarck had a formidable task at hand. How would he bring thirty-nine individual states under the yoke of a single Kaiser? Once united, could the young European nation wield enough power to rival the empires of…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Blood and Iron as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I have selected a non-academic title which has gained a lot of attention over the past year or so. Its author is a journalist (for titles such as The Spectator, Daily Telegraph, and The Washington Post) and podcaster (Tommies & Jerries), but her Anglo-German background, storytelling flair, and social media presence have made her an important new voice in interpreting German history for the English-speaking world. This book is a handy starting point for those who want a concise chronological narrative of the period.

From Matthew's list on Bismarck and Imperial Germany.

Want books like Blood and Iron?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Blood and Iron.

Browse books like Blood and Iron

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Germany, nationalism, and politics?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Germany, nationalism, and politics.

Germany Explore 463 books about Germany
Nationalism Explore 63 books about nationalism
Politics Explore 703 books about politics