Genealogy Books - The Habsburgs

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Summary: Not Your Typical History-This one is about how the Habsburgs saw themselves
Comment: Unlike most histories of the Austian-Spanish-Burgundian-Low Country-Holy Roman Emporers, who were
the Habsburgs, this is the story of how they saw themselves (as working for their people at the
behest of a Catholic God). Much is made as to how they viewed themselves and how they wanted to be
viewed by posterity. In many ways they continued to 'right write' their history in the same manner
that the Soviet Union did. It's not always what you put in a story that's important, it's how you
present the information in the story that remains.

Beginning with the small castle in
Switzerland, the Habsbierge (hawk's mountain), they ruled over parts of Austria (originally Styria)
for over 700 years. In between the scrupulously married and made dynastic mergers that would place
them on the thrones of Spain (and most of the Western Hemisphere, parts of Africa and
India),Portugal,Burgundy (parts of Belgium and the Netherlands), the Palatinate, Tuscany, Venice,
Two Sicilies, Austria, Hungary, Bohemia-Moravia, Slovakia,half of Rumania(Transylvania) and most of
future-once-Yugoslavia. In addition they married into every royal family in Europe.
/>In fact, until the Napoleonic Era they never even used a title that refered to Austria, and only
began because of the rise of nationalism and the growth of ethnicity. They were always trained to
be a caretaker and to present the most benevolent face to their people, 'Empire and Father' was the
byword. In the end they were outdone by the multi-ethnic problems of their empire and the changes
wrought by the 'Great War'.

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Summary: A Nice Overview of a Famous Dynasty
Comment: 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.

The book is not as bad as
some reviewers would lead you to believe. What I liked about it is that (to me, at least) it didn't
get bogged down in tedious detail of each Hapsburg generation but gave the major facts and figures
in an informative manner. Given that the Hapsburgs wielded power in Spain and Austria at the same
time, I thought his treatment was informative without being boring. It would be nice if the author
had inserted the applicable figure number for a view of the subject as he presented him (or her) but
this is a personal preference.

Customer Rating:

Summary: A huge disappointment
Comment: 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.

The writing style does not achieve the easy grace of Alison Weir, Diane
Preston or David McCullough. Indeed, the sentence structured is tortured. Look up the genesis of the
First World War, and this is what you get: "Although the line of succession had been assured, first
to his nephew Franz Ferdinand (although that was to be overturned by the archduke's murder in
Sarajevo) and then to his great-nephew, Karl, and eventually Karl's son Otto, Franz Joseph had come
to see himself as standing at the end of the line."

This is an unreadable book that
should be avoided.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Good book but with several flaws
Comment: 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.

Customer Rating:

Summary: History based on its players
Comment: Agree with reviews that the book is challenging in the way it's organized: around the figures rather
than a chronological series of events. This can be confusing, and the family tree is very helpful
in sorting out all the Rudolfs, Ferdinands, and Francis'. But I've always found history more
interesting this way. Wheatcroft more or less achieves an overall character of the house of
Hapsburg, a family that has lasted for the good part of the last millenium, never wavering in the
assurance that its members are ordained by God to rule and to serve the people with their best
interests. it is the blend of divine right and self-sacrifice that lends the Hapburgs their unique
character. The opening of the book reads almost like historical fiction, but this narrative
technique never reappears. And because of the scope of the subject, opportunities to delve into any
one figure, no matter how important, are rare. But I found the portrayal of the family as a whole
satisfactory, and the book can be read as an introduction to any figure interesting enough to
warrant further research, such as the ill-fated Don Carlos.

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