Part I. Youthful vocations (1646-1676)
The birth of a vision : background, childhood, and education (July 1646-February 1667)
The vision broadens : Nuremberg, Frankfurt, and Mainz (March 1667-March 1672)
Old wine in new bottles : Paris, London, and Holland (March 1672-December 1676)
Part II. Dreams and reality (1676-1716)
A universal genius as librarian, historian, and mining engineer : Hanover and Lower Saxony (December 1676-October 1687)
In the footsteps of the Guelfs : Southern Germany, Austria, and Italy (November 1687-June 1690)
Back under the Guelf dukes : Hanover and Wolfenbüttel (June 1690-February 1698)
Between brother and sister : Hanover and Berlin (February 1698-February 1705)
Light and shadows : Hanover, Berlin, Wolfenbüttel, Vienna (February 1705-September 1714)
Epilogue : last years in Hanover (September 1714-November 1716).
