The Habsburg Empire: A Very Short Introduction by Martyn Rady
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publisher Site – OUP

“Habsburg” is one of those names recognized as a big deal, but if one isn’t a history buff one might know nothing – or near nothing – about them. For many, the Habsburg Empire is synonymous with Austro-Hungary, but – in its heyday – the Empire controlled territory as far-flung as the Philippines and Mexico through marriages with the Iberian Peninsula royals. This guide hits the highlights of the Habsburgs from their 11th century beginnings to their demise in the wake of World War I.

Rady drops a lot of fun facts in this book in order to make it more than the dry retelling of war and marriage that often make up histories. Because this is a concise guide, these fun facts aren’t necessarily elegantly introduced, but sometimes appear to be tucked in willy-nilly, as with the sentence:

“Franz Ferdinand, besides being a maniacal huntsman who bagged an estimated 270,000 creatures (mostly partridges, but including two elephants), was convinced that the Habsburg Empire depended for survival on its comprehensive reorganization.”

What does the clause about being an avid hunter have to do with the discussion at hand? Absolutely nothing as far as I can tell, but it does capture one’s attention.

I feel I came away from this book with a better understanding of the Habsburgs, as well as with a few fascinating tidbits stuck in my brain — such as about the strangely long jaw bones of inbred royals. If you know nothing about the Habsburgs, but would like to, I’d highly recommend this book.

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