The Thirty Years War

Europe's Tragedy

By: Peter H. Wilson

Narrated by: Matthew Waterson

Length: 33 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The Thirty Years War devastated seventeenth-century Europe, killing nearly a quarter of all Germans and laying waste to towns and countryside alike. Peter Wilson offers the first new history in a generation of a horrifying conflict that transformed the map of the modern world.

When defiant Bohemians tossed the Habsburg emperor's envoys from the castle windows in Prague in 1618, the Holy Roman Empire struck back with a vengeance. Bohemia was ravaged by mercenary troops in the first battle of a conflagration that would engulf Europe from Spain to Sweden. The sweeping narrative encompasses dramatic events and unforgettable individuals—the sack of Magdeburg; the Dutch revolt; the Swedish militant king Gustavus Adolphus; the imperial generals, Wallenstein and Tilly; and diplomat Cardinal Richelieu. In a major reassessment, Wilson argues that religion was not the catalyst, but one element in a lethal stew of political, social, and dynastic forces that fed the conflict.

By war's end a recognizably modern Europe had been created, but at what price? The Thirty Years War condemned the Germans to two centuries of internal division and international impotence and became a benchmark of brutality for centuries. As late as the 1960s, Germans placed it ahead of both world wars and the Black Death as their country's greatest disaster.

©2009 Peter H. Wilson (P)2023 Tantor

A great survey

The Thirty Years War is obviously an intimidating topic, but this audiobook does as good a job as possible presenting the material in a listenable format.

Less caffeine, narrator

It’s like the narrator was getting paid in words per minute because punctuation did nothing to slow them down. Maybe listening at half or 3/4 speed would be better, but he was going WAY too fast given the density of the material.

Awesome

As a wannabe historian who wishes I could live thru all of a history I’ve greatly enjoyed listening to this and greatly enhancing my knowledge and understanding

So much learned…

I had no idea about the 30 year war until reading this book. So interesting the history that built up to make Europe what it is now.

Best Single-Volume History of the 30 Years' War

This is easily the best single volume history of the Thirty Years' War hands down. Wilson covers a lot of ground here while also effectively contesting a number of perceptions and narratives about the conflict (particularly those of political scientists/IR academics). That being said, it probably is better read on the page than an audible listen, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless.

TMI But Not Enough Human Perspective

if you want excruciating detail read way too fast, this book is for you. I wish I had bought the audiobook on the same subject that is less than half the length. This book is big on big names of the time, and I suppose it is thorough. I cannot judge its accuracy because I'm a mere spectator of history, not a student. I will offer this personal criticism; repeatedly, the author includes statements and observations phrased that left me with the impression that the 30 Year War wasn't as bad is it is made out to be. I'm left puzzled because it sure sounded horrendous enough.

Superb!

A wonderful listen, thoroughly detailed but still engaging. Highly recommend this book for any serious student of military or Central European history.

30 Year Book

I'll first state that the author clearly put years of work into this book. I can't imagine the dedication level to write a book like this and he has every reason to be proud of his accomplishment. The narrator as well did a very good job with very difficult words to pronounce for non native German speakers.

That said: I don't think I'm going to read this again. The thing I've noticed about British historians, is that they tend to give a bare bones account of battles. It's very possible that, in the case of the 30 Years War, there aren't enough sources to really flesh out the accounts.

It was a hard book to finish. I would've been better off with a documentary or shorter book. next, I'm going to read his book on the Battle of Lutzen next. It's shorter and might be a bit more my speed.

Comprehensive

This book covers all aspects of the war. The political elements really show much more they influenced the war. To larger degree than the religious elements.

A real grind with no payoff

Well, that was a test of patience and will. Listened to the whole thing. Mind-numbing detail and a triumph of historical pedantry. Written for the author and a small group of experts, this exhausting work is decidedly not recommended for the historically interested layman. The work lacks proper editing which would have cut it in half or 2/3 to eliminate mindless detail with only precious little, and not very useful broader analysis, discussion of debates, or commentary on sources. This is more a metronomic chronicle of the war than a proper, accessible, authoritative history. Not recommended.