Moltke: His Life and Character

Originally published in 1892, this is a memoir of German Field Marshal Helmuth Graf von Moltke (the Elder), chief of staff of the Prussian Army for 30 years, compiled from numerous personal journals, letters, and notes. It also draws on his father’s memoirs and one of Moltke’s tales, “The Two Friends.”

Richly illustrated throughout with drawings by Moltke, portraits and facsimile letters.

“THE nature of the subject of this volume rendered it impossible that the contents should appear as if cast in one mould. This circumstance might be regarded as a defect, but its justification will be found partly in the many-sided character of a long and eventful life, which showed a rich development and a mature perfection of every human faculty, and partly in the fact that for some periods of this life original authorities were lacking. The volume is therefore intended, as was inevitable, to produce its effect by the impression it makes as a whole. Our knowledge of the Field-Marshal must be supplemented from notes regarding his family and his own life, from journals of travels, and records of the many impulses, scientific and artistic, to which his travels gave rise; further, from an attempt in the region of Belles Lettres—the novel of “The Two Friends,” in which he, the man of eight-and-twenty, paints himself true to the life; finally, from the vigorous productions of his old age, with their strivings after the highest truth, which, under the title of “Consolatory Thoughts,” form the conclusion of the volume.”- Editor’s Note