The Young Emperor, William II of Germany A Study in Character Development on a Throne

"The Young Emperor, William II of Germany" by Harold Frederic, examines the growth of Germany’s William II as he becomes Kaiser, during a time of big political changes in Europe. It looks at his early life, the impact of those who came before him, and what it meant to be part of the Hohenzollern family. The book begins by sharing William II's rise to power while Europe was changing; he was taking charge in Germany. It looks at what was going on around the world like the international exhibition, and how it all compared to William's strong rule. It also hints at the difficulties he would face as a leader and how he would handle the responsibilities passed down to him through his education.