History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04

"History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04" by Thomas Carlyle is a historical examination of Frederick the Great's early days, chronicling his childhood and the contrasting educational forces that molded him within an unusually organized royal family. Carlyle investigates the intricate elements of Frederick's upbringing and the essential relationships that defined his personality during those influential years. Frederick's childhood is presented as a fusion of German and French cultural impacts, largely determined by interactions within his family and the varied individuals attending to him. Carlyle stresses the singularity of Frederick's early experiences, particularly through the memoirs of his sister Wilhelmina, which are a key source for understanding their peculiar family interactions, while also outlining the conflicting elements that would later contribute to his rise as a powerful monarch.