The Seven Years War in Europe 1756-1763

In this pioneering new work, based on a thorough re-reading of primary sources and new research in the Austrian State Archives, Franz Szabo presents a fascinating reassessment of the continental war.Professor Szabo challenges the well-established myth that the Seven Years War was won through the military skill and tenacity of the King of Prussia, often styled Frederick “the Great”. Instead he argues that Prussia did not win, but merely survived the Seven Years War and did so despite and not because of the actions and decisions of its king. With balanced attention to all the major participants and to all conflict zones on the European continent, the book describes the strategies and tactics of the military leaders on all sides, analyzes the major battles of the war and illuminates the diplomatic, political and financial aspects of the conflict.

PrefaceIntroduction1. Frederick’s Failed Gamble: August 1756-October 1757 2. The Resurgence of Prussia: September 1757-June 1758 3. The Balance Restored: June 1758-November 1758 4. The Predator Cornered: December 1758-December 1759 5. The Elusive Peace: July 1759-May 1761 6. The Defeat of Prussia: February 1761-January 1762 7. Unexpected Denouement: January 1762-February 1763 ConclusionChronology of Major EventsList of MapsFurther Readingin EnglishBibliography

Franz A.J. Szabo is Professor of History and Director of the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Among his publications are Kaunitz and Enlightened Absolutism, 1753-1780, which won both the Barbara Jelavich Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies and the Austrian Cultural Institute Prize for best book in Austrian Studies. He has been awarded the Austrian Order of Merit for the Arts and Sciences for his contributions to Central European scholarship.