This text investigates the historical development of German social structures and political traditions to explain the nation's trajectory from the era of Frederick the Great through the rise of the Third Reich. Robert Hopwood utilizes a thematic approach to connect disparate cultural practices and political figures, arguing that specific institutional and social habits shaped the German state's evolution. By examining both high-level diplomacy and localized social customs, the author constructs a framework for understanding the unique pressures that defined German governance.

Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the author's focus on specific cultural markers. Experts highlight this as a useful text for those seeking to understand the social underpinnings of German political history during the specified era.