His career began as a Danish cadet. Moltke joined the army of the King of Prussia, translated Gibbon's monumental Roman history and was detached to the Ottoman Empire, the decline of which he witnessed very closely on campaigns and journeys. His "Letters from Turkey" became a bestseller. He married a half-English woman, cultivated music and literature, found access to the Berlin court and was promoted to Chief of the Great General Staff. His victorious campaigns against Denmark, Austria and France led to the foundation of the German Reich and at the same time opened the gate to industrialised war. Subsequently the Chief of Staff warned against total wars.

Olaf Jessen succeeds in bringing Moltke to life showing him behind the scenes of model Prussia as melancholic, adventurous and cosmopolitan German who unites all the contradictions of the century.