Not exactly what you are looking for, but the book "The German Genious" by Peter Watson asks how the german states and germany as a whole in 1933 had won more Nobel Prizes than any other nation, and more than the UK and USA combined.

It covers a large timespan, including the rise of Prussia, Frederick the Great and many other german monarchs, Clausewitz, how the german states were organized and how the differed from other nations and unions at the time. A very interesting book if not exactly what you asked for, as it is science heavy. The book is approx. 850 pages and it only cost €15 when I bought it last year.