# Bismarck and the Foundation of the German Empire

An audiobook by James Headlam-Morley, read by LibriVox volunteers (15 h 4 min, English).

"It is hard to be an Emperor under such a Chancellor." lamented Wilhelm I, the first emperor of the German Empire. Otto von Bismarck is probably the most fascinating or the most boring statesman throughout German history depending on one's perspective. He led 3 victorious wars (against Denmark, Austria and France) and achieved unification of Germany. However, he tried very hard to avoid unnecessary wars. His vision of European political system led to more than 40 years' peace and prosperity of Europe or to World War I, also depending on one's perspective. - Summary by SS Kim

[Listen](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/books/librivox/15011)
[Read the book](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/books/gutenberg/12400/read)

## Chapters

1. Chapter 1. Birth and Parentage (24:44): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_01_headlam_64kb.mp3
2. Chapter 2. Early Life, 1821-1847 (37:29): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_02_headlam_64kb.mp3
3. Chapter 3. The Revolution, 1847-1852, Part 1 (34:52): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_03_headlam_64kb.mp3
4. Chapter 3. The Revolution, 1847-1852, Part 2 (33:38): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_04_headlam_64kb.mp3
5. Chapter 4. The German Problem, 1849-1852 (29:41): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_05_headlam_64kb.mp3
6. Chapter 5. Frankfort, 1851-1857, Part 1 (29:48): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_06_headlam_64kb.mp3
7. Chapter 5. Frankfort, 1851-1857, Part 2 (26:23): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_07_headlam_64kb.mp3
8. Chapter 5. Frankfort, 1851-1857, Part 3 (23:35): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_08_headlam_64kb.mp3
9. Chapter 6. St. Petersburg and Paris, 1858-1862, Part 1 (34:25): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_09_headlam_64kb.mp3
10. Chapter 6. St. Petersburg and Paris, 1858-1862, Part 2 (31:06): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_10_headlam_64kb.mp3
11. Chapter 7. The Conflict, 1862-1863, Part 1 (27:09): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_11_headlam_64kb.mp3
12. Chapter 7. The Conflict, 1862-1863, Part 2 (28:59): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_12_headlam_64kb.mp3
13. Chapter 8. Schleswig-Holstein, 1863-1864, Part 1 (33:41): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_13_headlam_64kb.mp3
14. Chapter 8. Schleswig-Holstein, 1863-1864, Part 2 (31:23): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_14_headlam_64kb.mp3
15. Chapter 9. The Treaty of Gastein, 1864-1865 (26:43): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_15_headlam_64kb.mp3
16. Chapter 10. Outbreak of War with Austria, 1865-1866 (37:53): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_16_headlam_64kb.mp3
17. Chapter 11. The Conquest of Germany, 1866, Part 1 (30:31): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_17_headlam_64kb.mp3
18. Chapter 11. The Conquest of Germany, 1866, Part 2 (32:31): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_18_headlam_64kb.mp3
19. Chapter 12. The Formation of the Northern German Confederation, 1866-1867, Part 1 (26:09): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_19_headlam_64kb.mp3
20. Chapter 12. The Formation of the Northern German Confederation, 1866-1867, Part 2 (22:15): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_20_headlam_64kb.mp3
21. Chapter 13. The Outbreak of War with France, 1867-1870, Part 1 (31:06): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_21_headlam_64kb.mp3
22. Chapter 13. The Outbreak of War with France, 1867-1870, Part 2 (31:37): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_22_headlam_64kb.mp3
23. Chapter 14. The War with France and Foundation of the Empire, 1870-1871, Part 1 (32:14): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_23_headlam_64kb.mp3
24. Chapter 14. The War with France and Foundation of the Empire, 1870-1871, Part 2 (32:08): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_24_headlam_64kb.mp3
25. Chapter 15. The New Empire, 1871-1878, Part 1 (27:27): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_25_headlam_64kb.mp3
26. Chapter 15. The New Empire, 1871-1878, Part 2 (30:06): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_26_headlam_64kb.mp3
27. Chapter 16. The Triple Alliance and Economic Reform, 1878-1887, Part 1 (35:40): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_27_headlam_64kb.mp3
28. Chapter 16. The Triple Alliance and Economic Reform, 1878-1887, Part 2 (34:17): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_28_headlam_64kb.mp3
29. Chapter 17. Retirement and Death, 1887-1898, Part 1 (21:36): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_29_headlam_64kb.mp3
30. Chapter 17. Retirement and Death, 1887-1898, Part 2 (24:54): https://archive.org/download/bismarck_foundation_german_empire_2101_librivox/bismarckandgermanempire_30_headlam_64kb.mp3