The treatise was meant as an analysis of problems connected with the monumental work of Samuel Pufendorf on the reign of Charles X Gustav, King of Sweden. Printed in Nuremberg in 1696, it has not been systematically explored so far. The book of Pufendorf continues to surprise, allows one to re-read the great conflict, known as the Second Northern War, which influenced a large part of Europe. Many legends and myths relate to this dramatic era, some of which are supported by the data contained in the Pufendorf's book, and others may be challenged on the basis of his account. Wojciech Krawczuk's study is mainly devoted to the military history, but it also touches upon other topics, to wit the history of diplomacy and bureaucracy or the research on the early modern cultural landscape.

"Pufendorf's De Rebus a Carolo Gustavo is in no way forgotten. On the contrary, it is frequently used by historians as a source of examples and on-the-spot accounts. Krawczuk, however, studies the text as a whole, which in itself makes his manuscript a pioneering work. [The Author] compares Pufendorf's account with the findings of the historians of today. His footnotes cover works in several languages, which makes them valuable tool for further comparative research. Dr. Krawczuk's study will be of great value for both Swedish and foreign historians, not only for those who are interested in the wars and politics of Charles Gustav's times, but also for those exploring the Absolutist Regime of his son, Charles XI."

Bjorn Asker