Frederick the Great discussion post 15

[cahn]

...I have nothing clever to say here, just really pleased this is still going :)
rheinsberg

Comments

Re: Heinrich readthrough!

[mildred_of_midgard]

it certainly hadn‘t occured to Fritz, either, when he told Voltaire et al his twist on the legend and insisted on dating his letters from „Remusberg“ back in the light hearted later 1730s

Well, back when Fritz was living at Rheinsberg, no one was blaming him for his brother's death. Once Heinrich was setting up monuments there...more sinister applications of the legend suggest themselves.

Fontane: thank you! My German's getting closer. :D

Kaphengst comes across in all reports on him as someone with zero self control, giving into his every instinct, and to conduct a blackmail operation and keep your material secret, that lasts so long, you do need self control

This is a very compelling argument.

If Kaphengst had blackmailed him, he‘d have built up resentment, and when Heinrich was resentful, you noticed.

This too. I found the blackmail idea fascinating for fiction but unlikely in real life. Kaphengst just seems to have been completely over the top in a way that doesn't require violating Occam's razor. Too bad we won't see this in a fic, but I totally understand.