The internationally renowned historian John Röhl presents the continuation of his "infinitely knowledgeable and readable" biography of Wilhelm II. The new volume depicts that crucial phase of his reign known as the establishment of the personal monarchy. Characteristics of this period of governance include the Bismarck crisis and the fall of the chancellor, foreign policy incompetence and a delusion of grandeur, naval expansion programs, and the beginning of international isolation, as well as intra-family tyranny and a fundamentally anti-democratic attitude. Wilhelm II, in his personal accumulation of power—which has been overlooked by historians until now—had a fatal historical influence on Germany and Europe. John Röhl describes how Wilhelm, immediately after ascending the throne, embarked on his foreign policy, which was marked by a complete lack of expertise.