Thomas Nipperdey is widely regarded as one of the great historians. His three volumes on German history from 1800 to 1918 are primarily responsible for this acclaim. Not as well-known as his main work are his brilliant historical essays, often published in venues accessible only to specialists. Paul Nolte has compiled a selection of these essays, which once again demonstrate Nipperdey's masterful ability to analyze complex historical constellations with striking clarity while also presenting them in a compelling literary style. Nolte's afterword introduces us to this exceptional historian, whose essays are, above all, a pleasure to read for anyone with an interest in history.