Martyn Rady

Rady is a good introduction to the the history of Mitteleuropa. He begins with the Romans and the various migrations that swept across the continent. He includes Germany (and the western Rhinelands), which I don't typically include in Central Europe; perhaps that is post WWII thinking on my part. As is the way of such works, the coverage of more recent times gets a lot more ink. Rady is good at noting ways in which Mitteleuropa differed from the West and how they influenced each other. I show more learned a lot about the rise of the pernicious bureaucratic state, communism and its fall, Czech theatre and cinema, and much else. The book is very readable; my attention rarely flagged. Rady also has a good sense of humor and gets off a few zingers. If your knowledge of the area is spotty, like mine, this is an excellent way to fill gaps and get some recommendations for further reading. show less

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

Martyn Rady writes very engaging history books. His chronological journey of the Habsburgs in his "A Very Short Introduction' on the Habsburgs gives just a preview of his skill as a historian and an engaging writer that rises above dry academic tone. As is the case with nearly all history books you may have to be either in the know or at least interested in European history. However with Rady's The Habsburgs the history being told feels relevant as ever to our show more times and this in-itself makes the book read more like a novel than what you could expect from a deep history of this family dynasty that reaches just shy of 1,000 years.

The Habsburgs reaches from the 13th century to the 20th and delivers on grippingly told histories in some twenty eight well arranged chapters that not only include the relevant stories and players and personalities but does what great histories do: Rady tells the story and relates it back to our life now. In this age of increased nationalism and division and consolidation of power and revolution this history of the Habsburgs is more urgent than ever.

This is a totally comprehensive without being exhausting read. For the uninitiated let me whet your appetite just by the names of some these Habsburgs alone:
Albert the Wise, Rudolf the Tight-Lipped, Albert the One-Eyed King (of Bohemia), William the Courteous, Leopold the Fat Ernest the Iron Fredrerick of the Empty Pockets, and Franz Ferdinand (as in Archduke Franz Ferdinand whose assassination and Habsburg family influence led to world war one),

Rady buttons up the history in the last two chapters that blend in beautifully with his concluding remarks. Yes - A history book with a beautiful conclusion and even engaging acknowledgements. I cannot express more how much of a joy this book is. Also it is so beautifully researched! The further reading and comments and notes are just a treasure trove into more deep reading than you will ever have the time for but its there and its waiting for you.

Martyn Rady's The Habsburgs is relevant, engaging, ambitious, and full of perspective and just stunning prose. show less

For surch an important dynasty, many people, including me, don't know that much about the Hapsburgs. Martyn Rady puts that right in this compact 330 page, introduction. We learn about the rise and massive expansion of the Empire, the shaving off of the Spanish component, the horrors of the Thirty Years War - which really should be known as the First World War given that it involved conflict on 4 continents including as far East as Taiwan, whereas the Great War of 1914-18 was primarily fought show more in continental Europe - the formation of a multi ethnic, multi religious Empire that held together remarkably well considering.

Throughout, the eccentricities, insanity, and inbreeding of the Hapsburgs are noted but not dwelt on. More space is given to the politics and factions of this complex edifice. And then finally, the end. As Martyn Rady notes, 1918 marks the end of a chapter for most countries, but for the Hapsburgs it marks the end of the book

Highly recommend show less

This is Professor Rady's masterpiece, and it was a pleasure to read. Beginning with the Romans, he traces 2000+ years of regional history in 500 pages. The book is packed with eyebrow-raising anecdotes, mind-boggling facts, and detail, but written conversationally. He's an expert of the subject matter, distilling knowledge for the everyday student of history. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, and will hopefully re-read this one at some point in my life.