re: neat details, in fairness, the story of him visiting the automata inventor Balducci with Heinrich and Ferdinand and the two boys being fascinated with the automata (Heinrich tried it out and got tea served by one) is also one, and charming. Or would be, if not for the fact that Balducci, which the introduction doesn't mention but I saw when looking it up in the main text, hadn't named his automata his metal "nègres". ....
's also a contemporary source, so whether or not that's how it happened (keep in mind everyone having Fredersdorf stationed in Küstrin, much to Buwert's chagrin), it definitely tells us that this story was going around.
Also, as we know from Nicolai, a lot of storytelling people seem to place Katte in Wesel together with Peter and Fritz when arrested, until the publications start in earnest with Fritz' death. Not to mention Voltairian dramatic inventions like FW being present at Katte's execution, or Wilhelmine getting thrown out of the window. But, as you say, it's interesting that this variation of the story (i.e. Fredersdorf could have gotten enobled by Fritz but declined and was content with the land) is making the rounds as well.
FW doesn't *give out* Potsdam Giants, he kidnaps them
I think anyone who knows anything about FW would know that. (Which means Uta J-K can't.) No Potsdam Giants freebies, and certainly not for Wretched Son.
Remember when you pointed out the title, and I wrote, "I hope it's code for Extremely Opinionated Memoir." My hopes were not in vain
They really weren't. I really hadn't expected the "Fredersdorf embezzled my salary!" part.
Re: Des Champs I: I'm Innocent! Everyone else was guilty. Except Le Diable.
's also a contemporary source, so whether or not that's how it happened (keep in mind everyone having Fredersdorf stationed in Küstrin, much to Buwert's chagrin), it definitely tells us that this story was going around.
Also, as we know from Nicolai, a lot of storytelling people seem to place Katte in Wesel together with Peter and Fritz when arrested, until the publications start in earnest with Fritz' death. Not to mention Voltairian dramatic inventions like FW being present at Katte's execution, or Wilhelmine getting thrown out of the window. But, as you say, it's interesting that this variation of the story (i.e. Fredersdorf could have gotten enobled by Fritz but declined and was content with the land) is making the rounds as well.
FW doesn't *give out* Potsdam Giants, he kidnaps them
I think anyone who knows anything about FW would know that. (Which means Uta J-K can't.) No Potsdam Giants freebies, and certainly not for Wretched Son.
Remember when you pointed out the title, and I wrote, "I hope it's code for Extremely Opinionated Memoir." My hopes were not in vain
They really weren't. I really hadn't expected the "Fredersdorf embezzled my salary!" part.