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The Habsburgs
- The Rise and Fall of a World Power
- Narrated by: Simon Bowie
- Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
In The Habsburgs, Martyn Rady tells the epic story of a dynasty and the world it built - and then lost - over nearly a millennium. From modest origins, the Habsburgs grew in power to gain control of the Holy Roman Empire in the 15th century. Then, in just a few decades, their possessions rapidly expanded to take in a large part of Europe stretching from Hungary to Spain and from the Far East to the New World.
The family continued to dominate Central Europe until the catastrophe of the First World War.
With its seemingly disorganised mass of large and small territories, its tangle of laws and privileges and its medley of languages, the Habsburg Empire has always appeared haphazard and incomplete. But here Martyn Rady shows the reasons for the family's incredible endurance, driven by the belief that they were destined to rule the world as defenders of the Roman Catholic Church, guarantors of peace and patrons of learning.
The Habsburg emperors were themselves absurdly varied in their characters - from warlords to contemplatives, from clever to stupid, from idle to frenzied - but all driven by the same sense of family mission. Scattered around the world, countless buildings, institutions and works of art continue to bear witness to their overwhelming impact.
The Habsburgs is the definitive history of a remarkable dynasty that, for better or worse, shaped Europe and the world.
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- Turquelblue
- 07-08-20
4 Minutes per year is a tough ask.
This is a tough review to write. As a non historian who has lived and traveled extensively in Central and Eastern Europe , I came to this book with some background knowledge. Accordingly , there were times when I felt the amount dedicated to certain events was too short e.g. Charles V and the 30 years war. Equally , my knowledge of the Empire in the 18th century was enhanced.
It is always a problem for historians to decide how much context of what was happening outside the core subject to include in the narrative. Certainly, I felt at least a reference to Marlborough when discussing the Spanish War of Succession would have helped UK readers.
I do recommend the book to any reader with an interest in European history. It will be a stimulus to follow up on certain areas you previously knew little about.
Narration is good. By and large , Simon Bowle opens well with German expressions and Hungarian and Slavic names.
Finally, my thanks for giving me my Pub Quiz question of the year. Why does the Brazilian national soccer team play in yellow and green?
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5 people found this helpful
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- Elaine & Edward Jackson
- 06-08-20
A superb telling of an incredible history!
This was one of the best history books I’ve had on audible, equal to Bettany Woods history of Istanbul. The book is great at providing fascinating details of a dynasty that shaped a continent. I listened compulsively to the excellent narration and highly recommend this book for anyone interested in European history.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Brian McCarthy
- 31-07-20
Good general history
A nice general history of the dynasty including their cultural and political histories. Good if you want an introduction in my mind.
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4 people found this helpful
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- michael Billington
- 15-07-20
A well written account of a dynasty
An engaging and enjoyable narrative of the dynasty which ruled over much of Europe and the new world and became a byword for the dangers of inbreeding. From obscure origins in central Europe to their apogee under the rule of Emperor Charles V the Hapsburgs showed what could be achieved with cunning, endurance and a large slice of luck. Enjoyed the way in which the author balanced the personal qualities of the various rulers without losing track of the larger forces that were at work during the times in which they ruled.
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4 people found this helpful
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- JJ
- 29-05-21
Great book spoilt by narration
This is a very good book very informative and manages to condense the long reign of the Hapsburg family without losing too much. Unfortunately the narration is clunky, with pauses in middle of sentences and strange inflections. Could only listen is short stretches without the narration spoiling the book.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Matt
- 21-11-20
Very educational
I learnt a lot reading this book having Never read about the Habsburgs before. Really interesting story, sometimes hard to follow and I considered giving up with it a couple of times but glad I finished.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Breadfiend
- 13-12-22
Ultimate Habsburg History
A compelling account of the growth and decline of a world empire well told and narrated with understanding of its complexity. Rady’s account is made all the more significant and richer by his descriptions of the contextual setting and use of incidental detail. An essential contribution to understanding the behaviour of contemporary Eastern Europe and today’s world.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mr. M. J. Walker
- 29-10-21
Full of facts. Disappointing performance.
Packed full of information regarding the Hapsburgs.. Unfortunately let down by the performance,which was performed without any feeling or expression of caring about the subject matter. Such a pity, as the information contained in this book could be invaluable to scholars.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 09-07-21
Comprehensive and thrilling
A pretty wild ride through European history from the perspective of the Habsburg dynasty. The author manages to give a comprehensive and factual account while keeping you engaged with good writing and a constantly twisting narrative. The narrator is excellent apart from the occasional butchered German word, which is totally understandable as far as I’m concerned. Would definitely recommend!
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- A. J. Taylor
- 10-06-21
Good, Not Great
This book is good in parts and has a general overview of the Habsburg dynasty from its foundation to collapse and beyond. I found some parts really engaging and enjoyable such as Charles V, Phillip II, Archduchesses and Franz Ferdinand. Others I found simply boring and had to driver through them to carry out. The introduction is slow, I didn't get it or the message and found the conclusion not sufficient enough, the family today is glossed over. A paragraph got Otto von Habsburg is given, but nothing of his son and the head of the family today Karl von Habsburg. It is a useful read and Rady offers a fair view. The end is poignant and I feel the regret lile so many others of the empire being completely gone and insignificant today.
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