A History of the Habsburg Empire, 1526-1918

This is definitely not written for the general reader; it was a bit of a slog. Very good information, very well researched; Professor Kahn obviously knows his material and cares deeply about it, but this was plainly written for other scholars of central european history, not for the average person who may want to know a bit more about the Habsburg Empire (but then again, who would constitute the average for having an interest in the Habsburg Empire?).
Again, lots of information, just not collected in an engaging read.

I agree that the prose is hardly scintillating, but Kann is thorough. Also, I appreciate the fact that he surveys the history and culture of all the nations in the Empire. In my (informal) study of Central Europe, I have found this book to be extremely useful, if not indispensable, and I continue to refer to it. But it's not good bedtime reading, unless you need a soporific.

Abysmally written and apparently not edited at all ("Not before the heights of the Enlightenment did the Habsburgs establish a scholarly 'Anschluss' to the western world"), but full of good meaty facts.

Imagine, if you will, the most boring thing you can think of. Now picture the most boring person you know.

Imagine that person talking about that thing for well on 700 pages.

excellent source material difficult read due to spotty translation from German to English.