“NEVER FIGHT WITH RUSSIA”, “the Slavs are invincible” - these phrases of Otto von Bismarck are known to almost everyone in our country. In fact, the creator of the German Empire - the Second Reich - who went down in history as the “Iron Chancellor”, never uttered such words. These, as well as many other quotes, were attributed to him by unknown Russian myth-makers. Why him? And why do these words and Bismarck himself enjoy undiminished popularity in Russia? The role that Bismarck played in history is enormous and controversial, but the scale of his achievements is truly fascinating. He was a real genius of power, worthy to stand on a par with such titans as Peter the Great, Napoleon, Churchill. At the same time, the “iron chancellor” was by no means an iron man; he was familiar with both strong emotions and crazy hobbies, as well as depression that replaced periods of elation, laziness, and what today would be called bad habits. This book, written by an associate professor at the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at St. Petersburg State University, is undoubtedly the best Russian biography of Bismarck. It allows you to look at the “Iron Chancellor” not only as a great politician who turned the course of world history, but also as a living person with all human weaknesses, preferences and shortcomings.