Frederick II (24 January 1712 – 17 August 1786) was a Prussian king and military leader who ruled the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 until 1786. Frederick supported arts and philosophers he favored as well as allowing complete freedom of the press and literature. This reading is taken from the first modern English edition of his diverse Enlightenment-era writings, published by Princeton University Press in December 2020.

Angela Scholar is the renowned translator of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's CONFESSIONS, Antoine François Prévost's MANON LESCAUT, and the writings of the philosopher-king Frederick II ("the Great") of Prussia.

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