The Enemy at the Gate

Habsburgs, Ottomans, and the Battle for Europe

De: Andrew Wheatcroft

Narrado por: Stefan Rudnicki

In 1683, an Ottoman army that stretched from horizon to horizon set out to seize the "Golden Apple", as Turks referred to Vienna. The ensuing siege pitted battle-hardened Janissaries wielding 17th-century grenades against Habsburg armies, widely feared for their savagery. The walls of Vienna bristled with guns as the besieging Ottoman host launched bombs, fired cannons, and showered the populace with arrows during the battle for Christianity's bulwark. Each side was sustained by the hatred of its age-old enemy, certain that victory would be won by the grace of God.

The Great Siege of Vienna is the centerpiece for historian Andrew Wheatcroft's richly drawn portrait of the centuries-long rivalry between the Ottoman and Habsburg empires for control of the European continent. A gripping work by a master historian, The Enemy at the Gate offers a timely examination of an epic clash of civilizations.

©2009 Andrew Wheatcroft (P)2020 Hachette Audio

Great History!

Great overall history of the Hapsburgs and the Ottomans from their height of power in the 17th and 18th centuries to their fall. Day by day account of the 2nd Siege of Vienna.

Amazing

Really awesome book which gets into the nitty gritty of 16th-17th century warfare. Highly recommend!

Excellent read on this period in history

Very well narrated. Lots of details, and told in a manner in which kept me glued to listening!

Great in spots, too fast moving in others

Great in spots, too fast moving in others. The layout to get to the siege was ok, the siege itself I could have used more time and detail. Informative overall and tied back to how we are where we are today, which was a nice touch.

Superb history

A great sweep of narrative history anchored from the 1683 siege of Vienna to 1718 when the Holy Roman Empire pushed the Ottoman Empire out of Hungary. The foreground and epilogue to this conflict are thoughtfully presented. The author may annoy those who adhere to certain mythologies surround this conflict. Good. A central theme here is to understand something of the reality of what happened and how events served certain retelling of history in ways convenient to statecraft. This period of history casts an enormous shadow. Students of the history of The West - and this includes the Ottomans - should find this book well worth their time. Good as an introduction. Good as the art of narrative for those who already have some background. Superb writing. Excellent narration.

Kinda boring

Could have been better. Was it worth the 5.99 usd price? Probably, but not much more.

Details of the Siege

I wouldn't call this a history. Most of the book describes military unit level action of the siege of Vienna. Lots of gory detail of the injury and death of soldiers and civilians. This book gave me an appreciation of the struggle between the Habsburgs and the Ottomans but not of their civilizations.

History as Science, And Poor for It

History as science, an assortment of facts, is boring.

History that matures into myth, that floats on a bed of poetry, is what captures us.

Wheatcroft has written this history as science. And he didnt even do it well, in my opinion. He comes across as a tired Westerner who lionizes Ottoman military efficiency and power, while writing off the perspective of Christendom.

Eh Very Unromantic Take

I'm not saying history should be Romanized, but there's a balance to it. This felt more like a list of facts from someone who very much sympathizes with the Ottoman Empire and treats the West as nothing but fools. I'm not upset that I listened to it, but I won't remember it in a couple year's time.

Look elsewhere

Author is sad that the Ottomans lost. in his mind the Hapsburgs etc. are bums and the Ottomans are chads.