The Long Ride of Major Von Schill

This unique book tells the remarkable story of Ferdinand von Schill, the Prussian major who led a failed revolt against Napoleon. After his death in 1809 Schill became a ubiquitous figure of German nationalism, a symbolic hero used by monarchists, Liberal Democrats, Nazis, and Communists alike, each for their own ends. Using the narrative of Schill's famous 'ride,' Sam A. Mustafa guides readers through the radical changes in German society and politics in the past two centuries. In the process, he considers the nature of patriotism, the creation of heroes and heroic mythology, and the fragility of history itself in a masterful narrative that will be an invaluable reference for anyone interested in the German experience during the Napoleonic Wars.