author
William Fiddian Reddaway
1872–1949
A Cambridge historian with a gift for making European power politics readable, he wrote widely on Prussia, Russia, Poland, and the wider history of modern Europe. His work helped introduce generations of English-language readers to parts of European history that were often overlooked.
1 Audiobook
Frederick the Great and the Rise of Prussia
by William Fiddian Reddaway
About the author
Born in Middleton, Lancashire, on August 2, 1872, he was educated at The Leys School and King’s College, Cambridge. He became a Fellow of King’s in 1897 and later taught at Fitzwilliam House, building a long academic career in Cambridge that lasted for decades.
Reddaway was best known as a historian of modern Europe, especially Prussia, Russia, Poland, and the Baltic world. Among his notable books are The Monroe Doctrine, Frederick the Great and the Rise of Prussia, and Introduction to the Study of Russian History, and he also contributed to larger historical projects connected with European history.
He died on January 31, 1949. Remembered as a scholar with broad interests and a strong command of continental history, he remains an appealing figure for listeners drawn to older historical writing with an international outlook.