Dorothy Gies McGuigan (1914–1982)

1663 The Habsburgs, by Dorothy Gies McGuigan (read 9 Oct 1981) This is a very light gossipy book about the family which read very easily and quickly and which I enjoyed. The family is crammed with interesting characters and my just having completed a trip to Czechoslovakia gave immediacy to some that I read. I was surprised to note that I'd forgotten some of the Mayerling story, though I have read detailed accounts of it. It still seems hard to know the reasons for it. This was a non-profound book, but fun to read.

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I read this book when it was first published. I was just out of grade school. In retrospect, I can not imagine what drew me to this book since at the time I had never heard of the Hapsburgs or the Holy Roman Empire and knew nothing of Central Eurpean History.

I was captivated by the book and over the next few years I read it five or six times. Obviously I was reading uncritically with a child's interest and attitudes. Subsequently, I regarded the book as simple and unscholarly. Finally, I have realized that it is a popluar presentation of a huge subject. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor fully authoritative. It is to be informative and accessible - and if it entertains a little, then fine. McGuinan definitely succeeds in these goals. I recomend this book for anyone looking for a good introduction to an amazing family that has shaped and participated in Europe's history for more than five centuries. I only wish the book were brought up to date with post cold war developments.… (more)