Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Budapest    3. Eastern Europe - General    4. Exiles    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Hungary    9. Jews    10. Jews, Hungarian    11. Modern - 20th Century    12. United States    13. History / General   

Reviews (3)

A remarkable and exceptional book
When I read Charles Gati's prize winning "Hungary and the Soviet Bloc," I then thought that he had written the last and best word on our understanding of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 during the Cold War. Then, unexpectedly, several years later the Berlin Wall came down, Hungary and the USSR's East European satellites regained independence, and heretofore closed Cold War archives began to open. From archives in Budapest and Moscow as well as from dozens of interviews with participants of '56 both East and West, Professor Gati has written a classic of Cold War history and analysis which arguably will become the definitive account of the multi-sided, tragic events of 1956 in Hungary. No stone has been left unturned -- the author has read the minutes of the Politburo meetings in the Soviet Union and Hungary, as well as the interrogation and trial transcripts from the last days before his execution of Imre Nagy, former Prime Minister of Hungary. This fluently written, masterfully organized, and exeptionally well integrated small volume deserves to sit on the Cold War history shelf along with Allison's "Essence of Decision," the study of another major event of the era, the Cuban Missile Crisis.
A HumanJourney
Take the experts' word that this study is a reliable, extensive, and insightful account of the 1956 Hungarian Revolt. What strikes me is the personal element. We go from the recollections of a young, unsophisticated journalist of 22, caught in the tide of momentous events he does not understand, to the retrospection of a highly sophisticated scholar revisiting those events and doing his very best to look behind history's curtain to resolve their meaning. It is a gripping, honest, and personal account, rendered with the binocularity of five decades of study. A century from now, this will still be the book to read, not just for the facts but also for the feel of one of the 20th century's signal struggles.

First rate history
Gati's definitive account of the Hungarian revolution and the American role in it reads like a LeCarre novel with documentation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Eastern Europe - General    2. Europe - Austria & Hungary    3. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    4. Foreign relations    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Hungary    9. Revolution, 1956    10. Revolutionary    11. Soviet Union    12. United States    13. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    14. Revolutions & coups    15. c 1945 to c 1960   

Reviews (7)

Habsburgs research on the Great Siege
I am a history major at Indiana State University.In my spring term, I used the book (as one of my sources) for my research paper on the Great Siege of Malta of 1565.I will agree that this particular book is not the greatest reading in the world, but generally historians write books for historians. Also, I will agree with other reviewers that the book's title is misleading because it does not focus on the 16th century compared to others.The book was used in my research to help explain the rivilary between Charles V of Spain (the Holy Roman Emperor) and Francis I (King of France).The cause of the rivals were not because of the grudge with Charles V winning the election for the Holy Roman Emperor or Francis I imprisonment in 1525, but Francis saw the danger of the Habsburg Empire surrounding France. History is killed in another boring text
This text is not a good history text.Any good text book will make the subject come alive, this book kills it.It is, however, extremely informative, if you can get through the introduction without dieing.NOT recommended for anyone who is not a post grad! (and even then, only if required for a class).

Dry critique on Empire
There is a reason why this book is out-of-print. It's as dry a book as I've ever read and is much more a critique on the Hapsburg Empire and less of a historical overview. The title implies that Kann will introduce the reader to the Central Europeon Power and detail much of the family's power over Europe but that's far from the case. Instead, Kann goes so in depth to pick apart the Hapsburg's, that impossible to keep track of where he's going. Although the chapters have a chronological order to them, Kann mentions events that happened during a five-hundred year span in the first three chapters and aimlessly wanders so much through the text, he should be arrested for reckless writing. Some writers can pull off writing like this and make it into a masterpiece (Son of the Morning Star by Evan S. Connell comes to mind), Kann simply makes it into a field of landmines in which the reader unexpectedly will step onto a trap and utter "Whaaat?" and have to skip back to try and figure out if Kann has a connection to the previous paragrapgh or if he's just writing instantaneous thoughts. Kann's rambling book reminds me of Paul Thomas Anderson movies - it's made purely to pleasure the writer while the rest of the world has its hands in the air wondering "What did I just read/ watch?" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Austria & Hungary    2. Europe - Germany    3. History - General History    4. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    5. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    6. Germany    7. History / General    8. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    9. Rank & titles   

Subjects:  1. Chronology    2. Eastern Europe - History    3. Europe - Austria & Hungary    4. Europe - General    5. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Hungary    10. Revolution, 1956    11. Revolutionary    12. History / Europe / General   

Reviews (6)

Harm not the Magyars!(Zrinyi)
I often wondered why Hungary and Hungarians have such poor public relations, particularly in the US.Unfortunately, this book fails to answer that question.It is a fascinating read, if only because it gives, (in parts) a refreshingly different perspective.In others, unfortunately, the Communist-era interpretation of the author's sources is painfully evident.The many details in the narrative are interesting, partly because the selection of the details reveals the author's biases.There are a number of translation errors I found in the book which naturally led to faulty conclusions.P.e. "Honved"(seg)(hon=home, vedni=to defend) is not the militia, it's the standing army."Nemzet orseg," (nemzet=nation, orseg=guard) is the militia. All in all however, it was worthwhile to read through the book.It will lead those, who are not familiar with the Magyars to some understanding of the background of this nation although will leave them feel shortchanged in understanding their psyche.I senta copy of the book to both of my (adult) children together with a 16 page commentary.It is a laudable effort on the part of author Lendvai and by and large I believe it will benefit the Hungarians' image as well.

The Hungarians is a victory
This book is a well rounded look at a thousand year old country.
A comprehensive focus on the Hungarian people
Hungarian history is largely omitted from college-level courses, at least as a focus on its own: European journalist and television commentator Paul Lendvai corrects this omission with The Hungarians: A Thousand Years Of Victory In Defeat, a comprehensive focus on the Hungarian people once known in Europe as 'huns'. Hungarians became defenders of the Christian West and fought many freedom battles: The Hungarians traces their many achievements, their country's changing history, and how the Hungarians have survived as a people against all odds.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Austria & Hungary    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Central Europe    6. European History    7. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    8. History / Austria & Hungary   

Reviews (6)

Hapsburg or Habsburg?
I really enjoyed this book, there was only a minor matter which rather annoyed me. I wonder why nobody seems to have taken the trouble of checking the proper spelling of all those European names?
Reads more like a novel than a biography
Top of Form
Captivating HerStory
I first learned about Sissi during my senior year of high school when my German teacher had a connection with someone in the international airline biz and could get her students back issues of German magazines like "Der Spiegel" and "Gala."I grabbed an issue of Gala and there was the most enchanting woman on the cover.It turned out to be Romy Schneider and the magazine was celebrating the 100th anniversary of Sissi's death.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1837-1898    2. Austria    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Elisabeth,    8. Empress, consort of Franz Jose    9. Empress, consort of Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria,    10. Empresses    11. Francis Joseph, 1848-1916    12. Historical - General    13. History    14. Royalty    15. Women    16. 20th century    17. Austro-Hungarian Empire    18. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY YOUNG FICTIO    19. Biography: historical    20. Biography: royalty    21. Elisabeth    22. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    23. History / General    24. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. History    2. Individual Photographer    3. Photo Techniques    4. Photoessays & Documentaries    5. Photography    6. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Europe    7. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    8. Hungary    9. Photographs: collections    10. Photography / History    11. c 1945 to c 1960   

Reviews (11)

Hypnotic Portrayal
Vienna poised at the end of the 19th century. A striking mix of political ferment, intellectual creativity, gaiety and despair. Resident are an astonishing collection of people whose work would later touch not only Vienna, but resound world-wide: Freud in psychiatry, Mahler in music, Hertzl with the Zionist movement and Klimt in art. And at the center of political and social life of the city is its bright hope for the coming new century - Crown Prince Rudolf. Through 1888 the pace in the city builds to a fever pitch as Vienna begins its season of Carnival.
Time travel does exist...
...and it takes the form of Frederic Morton's "A Nervous Splendor."Morton takes the reader on a trip through a long-vanished Vienna -- the Carnival season and the drudgery of day-to-day life in the city's slums; the glory of sun-splashed and colorful parades and the spiritual desperation manifested in amunicipal epidemic of suicides; the stullifying atmosphere of the Habsburg court and the creativity of the intellectual/artistic community. An engrossing, enticing snapshot
The history of Austria from 1848 to about 1945 is an almost endlessly fascinating topic. As Frederic Morton makes clear, many of the strains that wove together to create the modern world -- in science, medicine, politics, and art -- have their roots in this time and place. In choosing just a few months in the period 1888-1889, Morton isolates a time when the cracks in the Habsburg edifice are beginning to show. It's a fascinating portrait that, in the clich�d reviewer's phrase, reads like a novel.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1867-1918    2. 19th century    3. Austria    4. Europe - Austria & Hungary    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Intellectual life    9. Social life and customs    10. Vienna (Austria)    11. Western Europe - General    12. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    13. Franz Joseph    14. History / Austria & Hungary    15. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (3)

Better than your average survey history of a country
This is a surprisingly fine book.It is lively and concise. It is efficient, covering all major episodes of Hungarian history from the beginnings to about 1995.It never lingers or goes into excessive detail. The author's opinions are balanced. The translation (from French to English) is really excellently done.There could be more illustrations, but those that are included are good. The rather dull cover leads one to expect a rather dull book, but in fact it is a very satisfying one and easy to digest.

History of a Proud and Unique People
This is an outstanding history of a country and people that deserve to be better understood and appreciated. The Hungarians are not a Slavic, Germanic, or a Latin peoples; their language and heritage are alien to that of their neighbors. In many ways, both historically and culturally, Hungary has been at the crossroads of the events and movements that have shaped the history of Europe. Yet Hungary has also been a forceful shaper and mover itself, its modest current size belying the fact that it was once a potential superpower on the Danube. The history by Miklos Molnar is excellent in every respect and highly recommended.

Hungarian History
This is a complete and comprehensive history of the Hungarian land, people, society, culture and economy from its nebulous origins in the Ural mountains of Russia to the elections of 1988. It was written by a Hungarian born, Latin educated, French speaking, Nazi persecuted Swiss historian. The book tells the story of a once upon a time great nation that went into decline following Ottoman, Austrian and Soviet occupations at the same time preserving its unique language and European culture. The author links Hungary's political decline to its social, economic and cultural deficiencies. The country was under Hapsburg domination for four centuries and achieved its independence only after World War I, after having lost two thirds of its territory and half of its population. Now free of Soviet domination since 1990, Hungary seeks its place in the European Union of nations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Eastern Europe - General    2. Eastern Europe - History    3. Europe - Austria & Hungary    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Hungary    8. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    9. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    10. European history: c 500 to c 1500    11. European history: from c 1900 -    12. History / Europe / General    13. Hungary--History    14. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    15. c 1000 CE to c 1500    16. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Reviews (8)

Taylor being Taylor, as always
You don't want to miss Lagavulin, but you don't want it to be all you drink, either.
Borderline unreadable for the layman
This summary of the nineteenth century Habsburg empire is poorly organized, repetitious, glib and judgemental. The basic weaknesses of the Empire are identified, as is its place in the 19th century balance of power. But the work lacks a satisfactory narrative of events and assumes too much prior knowledge of the reader. This work may offer useful insights and interpretation to the expert, but is painful for the rest of us.

Detailed but remote
This should not be the reader's first attempt at the subject matter. AJP Taylor has written a well researched analysis of the final century of the Habsburg empire, but it is not accessible to a general audience. My own background prior to reading The Habsburg Monarchy on the affairs of Central Europe was fairly basic, and I do believe much of what's included here was lost.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1789-1900    2. 20th century    3. Austria    4. Europe - Austria & Hungary    5. Europe - Germany    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Central Europe    10. History / Austria & Hungary   

Reviews (41)

Contains numerous factual errors
Unfortunately, there are numerous falsehoods in this book according to the most definitive book to date on gas chamber operation "Auschwitz: Technique and Operation of the Gas Chambers" by Jean-Claude Pressac.
An eyewitness to the horror
This is a brief but powerful description of the horror of Auschwitz.Dr. Nyiszli was witness to the efficiency of the Nazi killing machinery, and is one of a very few such witnesses to survive.His account is an important reminder of the magnitude of the barbarity that man is capable of inflicting on his fellows.Dr. Nyiszli was also required to work with Dr. Josef Mengele, Auschwitz's "Angel of Death," helping him collect evidence to support his pseudo-scientific beliefs in Aryan superiority.While this first-hand description of Dr. Mengele fails to shed any light on his motivations or behavior, it does show the level of attention he payed to every aspect of the horror that was Auschwitz.Taken together with other eyewitness accounts, this book helps paint a more complete picture of the enormity of the Nozi crimes and the horror they inflicted.

a different perspective
Till date I have probably read well over a hundred books about holocaust. These survivors have been able to tell their story vividly but sometimes there is guilt in their voice - it is like the guilt of survival. It is not different here but just from a different perspective. Most of the other books I have read are from Levi, Weisel etc, but this is from somebody who was not in the direct line of fire. So Dr. Nyiszli could give a different perspective which is not available in the other books. He gave us a small detour from the camp to the heart of Dr Mengele and the Nazi pseudoscience. The strange fact is that even some Nobel Prize winners took part in analyzing the results of these experiments conducted by Dr. Mengele.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Atrocities    2. Auschwitz (Concentration camp)    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Human experimentation in medicine    9. Jewish Holocaust Personal Narratives    10. Nyiszli, Miklos    11. Personal narratives, Hungarian    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. History / General    14. Jewish studies    15. Mengele, Josef    16. Nyiszli, Miklós    17. Oral history    18. Poland    19. The Holocaust   

Reviews (10)

Need Your Home Interior Remodeled? Call an Historian!
How does an historian, whose job it is to interpret the past, come to terms with a cultural movement built upon the concept of modernity rejoicing in the death of history? This is exactly the question posed by Carl E. Schorske in his book Fin-De-Siecle Vienna Politics and Culture. In a series of essays, which the author admits are not meant to be interlaced, Schorske examines Vienna's cultural reaction to both the decline of Liberalism and the end of the Habsburg Empire. The task of merging politics and culture is not an easy undertaking and the faint-hearted reader should beware. "Just as a knowledge of the critical methods of modern science is necessary for interpreting that science historically," writes Schorske, "so a knowledge of the kinds of analysis practiced by modern humanists is necessary for coming to grips with the makers of twentieth-century non scientific knowledge" (p. xxi). Yet this brand of historical analysis is not that simple as Schorske goes on to explain. It appears, still more separates the historian from the humanist. According to Schorske, a dual approach is required when attempting to analyze cultural history. This binary-method is analogous, he argues, to a vertical and diagonal line. In the "diachronic" or vertical line, the historian more or less places the cultural in its historical context. In the "synchronic" or horizontal line, he or she looks at the relationship of the particular element of culture studied with what else is going on in the world of art, music, literature, and architecture. In a useful analogy, the author believes "The diachronic thread is the warp, the synchronic one is the woof in the fabric of cultural history. The historian is the weaver, but the quality of his cloth depends on the strength and color of the thread" (p. xxii). But what does this all mean? The essays that follow, though providing an enjoyable read, raise some doubts about Schorske's conclusions. The strength lies in the author's ability to place the culture of late nineteenth century Vienna in its historical context. In the opening "Politics and Psyche: Schnitz and Hofmannsthal," Schorske successfully ties the other essays together by introducing the two strands of Austrian fin-de-siecle culture:moralistic-scientific and the aesthetic. A conventional historian may feel more at home with the former, however, the aesthetic aspect is more difficult for many of us, to borrow a trite cliche, to carve in stone. Arguing functionality versus aesthetically appealing, or the placing of ancient Greek statuary on the steps of the Parliament building because Vienna had no past, therefore, it had no political heroes of its own to memorialize in sculpture, needless to say is unconvincing. Since Schorske cites no government documents, to back up his claims of Liberal motives and intentions in urban modernization, for example, his analysis of the connection between politics and culture borders on pure conjecture. The Freudian injection, resulting in the weakest essay of the book should have been omitted. Aside from the above-mentioned flaws, the book is interesting. Schorske's possesses a clear literary style, that helps the reader survive this graduate level sleeper. The addition of color plates, an anachronism in today's budgeted publishing industry was a welcome sight indeed. Yet, one wonders if such abstract concepts as modernity and aesthetics ought to be left to those more qualified outside the historical profession. Such studies, as art criticism itself, surely leave room for varying interpretations that open the doors for open debate.

Just like a time machine!
Reading Schorske is like riding a time machine to Vienna around the tumultuous late 1800s to 1900. He covers an electic array of topics. However, he has a central focus: to show the radical changes and interconnection between arts & politics at the turn of the century vienna (fin de siecle). But, be warned, Schorske is an intellectual historian, and though his exposition is easy to read, his themes are academic and copiously detailed.
i want to kill myself!
read this book to fall asleep, actaully no, read the chapter on Freud's interpretation of dreams and then fall asleep. in the morning interpret your dreams! a load of mind numbingly boring, non-sesical drivel! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1867-1918    2. 19th century    3. Addresses and essays    4. Austria    5. Europe - Austria & Hungary    6. History - General History    7. Intellectual life    8. Politics and government    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Vienna    11. Vienna (Austria)    12. Western Europe - General    13. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    14. Germany    15. History / Austria & Hungary   

Reviews (3)

The real Sound of Music
I had the opportuntiy to buy this book last fall when I saw the grandchildren of Maria Von Trapp in concert at the Dollywood theme park.Having read the account by Maria in her book "The story of the Trapp Family Singers" as a child I was fully aware that the movie and the real story were not identical, however the liberties of the movie version aside this book is a delight for anyone who loves the story and music of the Von Trapps.It gives you a first hand insight to what the family went through from the Natzi's to the building of their inn in Vermont to the rebuilding of it after it was destory by fire.The photography is superb and the history of this family is one I have enjoyed for years and will for years to come.I can hardly wait til next Christmas to add the Von Trapp Children CD to my holiday music enjoyment.

This book is great....
....because I find so many information about the Trapp Familiy which I don't know. I saw the two german movies from 1956 und 1958 and the american from 1965, and I like all this films. Great book
This book is a really great behind-the-scenes type book about the real VonTrapp family. Fans of the movie may not like it as much, because thereisn't very much stuff written about the making of the SOM. However, itreally gives you a very clear picture of the way the story reall waswithout detracting from the magic of the movie. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Central Europe - History    5. Composers & Musicians - Classical Vocalists    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Europe - Austria & Hungary    8. Family Relationships    9. Folk singers    10. Performing Arts/Dance    11. Pictorial works    12. Trapp Family Singers    13. Vocal Music   

Reviews (10)

More than 5 stars!
This is a favorite of mine, all the info about the Fin du siecle, Rudolph, and why we went into World War 1, and why some young people don't make it somehow!
A wonderful book
A college professor recommended this to me so I read it in about a day.It is very interesting how Morton weaves history into some sort of a novel that's very easy to read.Inspired by the death of his uncle in World War I, Morton writes about the history and the climax leading up to the very moment when the Crown Prince Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated by a Serbian terrorist youth. This book is great, glad I got it; however...
Something is missing.The book was a fantastic read.I would have given it 5 stars and a "Bravo!" - but some things are not mentioned that are needed.I read, elsewhere, about the "blank check" from the Germans that encouraged the Austrians to start a war with the Serbs.This would lead to something bigger for the Germans, against the French.Also, my previous readings indicated that Tisza and the Hungarians were not interested in war and urged the Austrians to offer, at least, an ultimatum.The Austrians, then came up with the "ultimatum/non-ultimatum".The author gives the appearance that Germany was passive in the whole situation and did not want to get involved.No mention is made of the "blank check".The only mention Tisza gets is that Franz Ferdinand did not like him and that the Hungarians abused the Serbs within their land.Nothing was mentioned, in particular, of the Tri-Monarchy that Franz Ferdinand had thought-up.I feel that the author left out some important things.Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Austria & Hungary    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Political History    6. Western Europe - General   

Reviews (1)

Good read; a few quirks
My wife was born and raised in Hungary and her father and his family were arrested and returned to Budapest for trying to cross the border with Austria, so I was eager to read the book.Although the book is described as being about the revolution, it is really about the political history of Hungary from the beginning of the 1900s up to the '56 revolution, with a few tidbits beyond.I was glad to get the broader perspective.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1945-1989    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Communism    4. Eastern Europe - History    5. Europe - Austria & Hungary    6. Europe - General    7. Europe, Eastern    8. General    9. Historical - General    10. History    11. History - General History    12. History: World    13. Hungary    14. Personal Memoirs    15. Rebellion And Insurgency    16. Revolution, 1956    17. Revolutionary    18. History / General   

Reviews (14)

A Nice Overview of a Famous Dynasty
This book gives a reasonably coherent overview of a dynasty that was eminent and influential in European politics from the 13th to the early 20th centuries. The author maintains a more or less chronological order of who followed whom and presents a concise history of the events that occurred during their reign. He also presents some insights and facts about the personal characteristics and traits of the more noteworthy Hapsburg (or Habsburg, if you like) rulers. At appropriate places in the text he inserts applicabnle commentary and quotes by contemporary observers. The book also includes numerous paintings as figures throughout the book.
A huge disappointment
Those who are seeking an magisterial overview of how one dynasty came to control both Spain and parts of German-speaking Europe will be sadly disappointed. There is little analysis that adds any fresh insights.
Good bookbut with several flaws
I wanted to read this book as i am getting ready to visit Vienna in April. The book by Mr Wheatcroft is good because his account touches on several things that were really interesting.For example, the author explains the different personalities of the Holy Roman Emperors and Emperors of Austria.He also does a good job in explaining the times in which this emperors reigned which gives you a very good view of the circunstamces at that time. I also enjoyed the motivation behind important buildings for the Habsburgs like El Escorial in Spain and the Catacombs in St Stephen Church in Vienna.For someone who wants an introduction to the Habsburgs is a good books altough it has several flaws. One is that the author " jumps" from one event to another or from one emperor to the other.For example,he'll be talking about Charles V and all of the sudden he starts talking about his sons or future emperors without letting you know about it.I found myself going back several paragraphs to understand why he was doing that.Second, he doesnt really explain how the Holy Roman Empire gets started.He just mentions Charlemagne several times and the reader has to imagine the rest.His account sometimes is fast and sometimes is detailed which forced me to use other books with genealogies to help me understand which emperor is which and where does he come from.The other problem with this book is that it looks like the author thinks that the reader knows a lot of things so he doesnt describe or gives definition to events,people and places that i didnt know.For example, Metternich is mentioned really fast and just by his last name, so if you dont knoe who Metternich is, you'll have to look for him in another book to know who he is.Besides it's flaws, is a good book to get you started. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Austria & Hungary    2. Europe - Germany    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Europe    6. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    7. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    8. History / Austria & Hungary    9. Rank & titles   

Reviews (1)

B.Wells, Esquire, reviews The Fall of the House of Habsburg
This is a marvelous little history of one of the great royal dynasties of Eurpoe which came to an end with the First World War.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1830-1916    2. Austria    3. Emperor of Austria,    4. Europe - Austria & Hungary    5. Francis Joseph, 1848-1916    6. Franz Joseph    7. Habsburg, House of    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: American    11. History / Europe / General   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Austria & Hungary    2. General    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Military - General    7. History / General   

Reviews (1)

Saintly Rulers
Although the author of this book turns to his topic in a most original manner-the narrative is developed on a broad intellectual scale based on a thorough mastery of the material-his theme, the cult of women saints of royal families, reminds this reviewer of the ideas so densely laid down in the magisterial work by Alois Dempf, Sacrum imperium (Berlin, 1929; 4th ed., 1973), of the arguments by Friedrich Heer, Europ�ische Geistesgeschichte, 2nd ed. (Stuttgart, 1965), and of the thoughts of Giles Constable formulated in his grandiose The Reformation of the Twelfth Century (Cambridge, 1996). These three scholars must have had quite an impact on him. Read more

Subjects:  1. Christian saints    2. Christianity    3. Christianity - History - General    4. Cult    5. Europe - General    6. Europe, Central    7. History    8. History: World    9. Hungary    10. Kings and rulers    11. Medieval    12. Religion - Church History    13. Religious aspects    14. To 1500    15. Central Europe    16. Eastern Europe    17. European history: c 500 to c 1500    18. History / Europe / General    19. Kings and rulers--Religious aspects--Christianity--History--To 1500    20. c 1000 CE to c 1500